FESTIVALS

SUMMER

Utah Arts Festival

View the latest-and-greatest artwork and find the perfect piece that speaks to your soul at the Utah Arts Festival — the state’s largest outdoor festival. More than 160 visual artists and 100-plus performing artists gather to promote the arts and enhance the quality of life in Utah. The festival features an artist marketplace, music and performing arts, film, street theater, literary arts and Art Yard.

SPRING

Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point

As the weather turns warmer, the tulips at the Ashton Gardens begin to bloom! Check out the arrival of 280,000 tulips at the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Spread throughout the 55-acre Thanksgiving Point Gardens, it is definitely a sight to be seen. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Tulip Festival includes music, vendors, food and storytelling for children. Fun fact: All tulips at this festival are imported directly from Holland.

Holi Festival of Colors

Each spring, Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork explodes with various kinds of hues at the Festival of Colors. This widely popular event observes the tradition, Holi, which celebrates the arrival of spring and the passing of winter. Come ready to get doused in the colors of the rainbow. Utah Pride Festival

Rainbow flags line the streets of Salt Lake City during the first week of June for the Utah Pride Festival. Celebrate Utah’s diversity and LGBTQ+ community by attending the festival or one of the many Utah Pride Week events, such as the Utah Pride Parade, Pride Interfaith Service, or Pride March and Rally. From its humble beginnings in 1974 as an informal gathering in the park, the Utah Pride Festival has come a long way and continues to grow each year.

Ogden Twilight

Where can you find big-name acts for an unbeatable price? The Ogden Twilight Concert Series, of course! Bands like The Flaming Lips, CHVRCHES, Cold War Kids and The Shins have all graced the Ogden Amphitheater stage at one time for this world-class concert series. On your way to the venue, check out Ogden’s Historic 25th Street, grab a bite at Lucky Slice, then get ready for a night of unbeatable fun and music.

Living Traditions Festival

Every year, more than 70 different cultural groups come together for the Living Traditions Festival — a free, cultural celebration that showcases traditional music, dance, foods and crafts of the ethnic communities that make Salt Lake their home. From Bosnian stuffed pitas and West African samosas to Chinese dragon dancing and Scottish bagpipes, the sights, sounds and flavors of the festival cannot be found at any other cultural event in Utah.

Salt Lake Twilight

The Twilight Concert Series is an annual summer event that has been happening in downtown Salt Lake City for over 30 years. Presented by the Salt Lake Arts Council, the goal of the Twilight Concert Series is to bring a diverse line-up of internationally

Utah Shakespeare Festival

Find your inner thespian at the Utah Shakespeare Festival — one of the premier regional theaters in the county and one of the biggest Shakespeare festivals in the nation. During the sixteen-week season, the festival presents classic and contemporary plays in repertory. These plays are then enhanced by interactive festival experiences, such as backstage tours, seminars and orientations — all in an effort to entertain, enrich and educate.

Days of ‘47

Celebrate the arrival of the first pioneer settlers to the Salt Lake Valley by attending one of the many Days of '47 events. From dusting off those cowboy boots for the Days of ‘47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo to camping out for the Days of ‘47 Parade, to working up a sweat at the Deseret News Marathon and the Pioneer Day Concert with The Tabernacle Choir, there is something for every Utahn to do at this time of the year.

Salt City Sounds Concert Series

Created in 2016, the Salt City Sounds Concert Series, aims to bring people to the city center to enjoy quality artists and entertainment, and has enjoyed continued success over the last three years.

Loveloud Festival

Founded in 2017 by Dan Reynolds, the LOVELOUD Foundation, is a catalyst to bring communities and families together to help ignite the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love our LGBTQ+ youth. LOVELOUD offers hope to young people, letting them know they’re not alone and encouraging acceptance in the home and community.

Utah Blues Festival

This is the only festival in Utah solely dedicated to increasing awareness of a uniquely American musical/cultural art form — blues music. This festival connects Utahns to a musical genre that has used the American experience as its voice — the blues! By showcasing national and local blues artists, as well as a Youth Showcase and Workshops, the Utah Blues Festival will provide a unique experience for Utahns to meet and connect around this culturally important musical art form, the foundation of all other American music to follow.

Wasatch International Food Festival

The Wasatch is home to some of the greatest and most diverse food on Earth. With the downtown Salt Lake City and Park City hip gastronomic scenes, to restaurants that specialize in locally sourced ingredients, to the traditional ethnic offerings of the West Side's diverse community, you can tour a different part of the world every night of the week. The Wasatch International Food Festival celebrates haute cuisine, street food, and everything in between. We want to dish up these rich and diverse menus with you, with a side of music and fun.

Tastemakers

Taste Utah’s innovative culinary landscape at Salt Lake City’s premier outdoor progressive food and drink event— Tastemakers. The two-day Tastemakers pass brings you sample tastings from Utah’s best restaurants in Salt Lake magazine’s exclusive dining pavilion at The Gateway. Limited tickets are available and will sell out….Don’t miss out!

Fairy Tale Festival

Join us to celebrate magic, fairies and the rich characters of fairy tales! Everyone will enjoy as we bring these folk tales to life discussing the science and history behind these stories and what we can learn from them. Come experience fairy tale themed crafts, activities and performers in the magical Ashton Gardens. It will be an adventure the whole family can enjoy!

DIY Festival

The Craft Lake City DIY Festival is Utah’s largest local-centric, three-day arts festival, with over 250 local artisans, DIY engineers, vintage vendors, and craft food creators, the Google Fiber STEM Building, two stages of music and dance performances, local food trucks, and approximately 20,000 attendees.

Autumn Aloft

Join us as we take to skies in beautiful Park City, Utah! The Autumn Aloft features up to 24 hot air balloons and includes Saturday and Sunday morning launch events and a candlestick event on Saturday night set on Park City’s Historic Main Street. All Autumn Aloft events are free to spectators.

Oktoberfest

Fall is the time for Snowbird Mountain Resort's annual Oktoberfest, one of Utah’s largest festivals, which draws more than 60,000 visitors. Attendees can enjoy food, brews and fun activities designed for all ages. Discover why Snowbird’s annual festival was voted one of America's 10 Best Oktoberfests by Men's Journal Magazine.

Utah State Fair

Bring the whole family out to the Utah State Fairpark and have some fun at the Utah State Fair! This extravaganza offers Escalante Canyons Art Festival

Artists, art lovers, rangers and outdoor enthusiasts gather to celebrate Utah’s canyon country. This week-long festival brings together people near and far for this premier art event of the Colorado Plateau. The festival includes plein air festivities, art exhibits, hands-on activities for all ages, live entertainment, speaker series, film showcase and so much more. Enjoy the changing of the seasons in one of the most beautiful areas in the south.

WINTER

Festival of Trees

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches. Start the holiday season off right with the magic, wonderment and joy of the Festival of Trees. After Thanksgiving, the Mountain America Expo Center is transformed into a winter wonderland of uniquely decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, playhouses, centerpieces, quilts and gingerbread houses. While you’re finding your festive spirit, meet Santa Claus, check out the gift shops, visit the playhouses and more. All proceeds benefit the Primary Children’s Hospital.

Last Hurrah

Take the stress out of planning the perfect New Year's Eve celebration and head to downtown Salt Lake City for Last Hurrah. This free community event features multiple outdoor live music stages, indoor games and a 21-and-over speakeasy lounge. Guests of all ages will find some kind of fun at Utah’s largest countdown celebration.

Sundance Film Festival

Every winter since 1985, the Sundance Film Festival becomes the gathering house of storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Their annual program includes dramatic and documentary features and short films; series and episodic content; filmmaker conversations, panel discussions and live music events. It is one event any cinephile won’t want to miss.

ONE UTAH, MANY VOICES

The story of religious pioneers settling by a salty sea is the most familiar chapter in Utah’s statehood history. Yet that’s only one story in this state’s fascinating past. As Utah turns 125, celebrate! Attend a virtual event. Explore a multi-faceted exhibit. View an educational video (with lesson plans).

> For this and more, visit: thrive125.utah.gov

Thank you to Utah Life and our sponsorsfor their support: