|
Between Salt Lake
City and its surrounding area, there are probably enough festivals
and events to keep you busy during your downtime. That is, if you
have any downtime between exploring the city and the natural
surroundings and of course, sampling the spectacular recreational
activities. Still, festivals and events make for a fun atmosphere
and can enhance your visit. There is a wide assortment of options
ranging from holiday fare to art fairs, and music festivals to
parades. Here is a sampling of what you’ll find during the course
of a year.
January marks the
beginning of perhaps one of Utah’s most famous events, the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford’s outlet for independent
filmmakers, held in Salt Lake City, Park City and Sundance. The Utah
Winter Games are also held this month, as local and regional
athletes compete in ski races and other winter sports. Both the
NBA’s Utah Jazz
basketball season and the Utah
Symphony Masterworks Series are ongoing through this month.
From high kicks –
Ballet West – to
clashing sticks – Utah
Grizzlies International Hockey League –you’ll find something
of interest on display in February. There is also the Temple
Square Concert Series, vocal and instrumental concerts on Temple
Square, and a Mardi Gras Festival at Snowbird Ski Area. It may not be New Orleans,
but where better to celebrate and ski at the same time?
Theater
is in full swing during the month of March, with performances from
groups like Off Broadway Theater, Grand Theater, Salt Lake Acting
Company, Hale Centre Theater and Pioneer Theater Company. Celebrate
the holidays with an Easter
Sunrise Service on top of Hidden Peak at Snowbird or while
watching the local St. Patrick’s Day Parade. An unlikely combination – or perhaps
not, given the time of year – is offered at the Celebration
of Art & Soup in the Salt Palace Ballroom.
Experience the
sweet sounds of spring in April with a performance of the Utah Opera
Company during its ongoing season. There is also a Swedish
Coming of Spring Festival in Sugarhouse Park and a Mountain Man Rendezvous at the Fielding Garr Ranch House. And what
could be more invigorating than watching runners gulp in great
mouthfuls of spring air during the Governors
Cup 5K Race?
May brings flowers,
and festivals, full in bloom, like the Utah
Square Dance Festival, the
Asian Festival, the Living
Traditions Festival at Washington Square, the Cinco
de Mayo Festival at the Utah State Fair Park, and the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival at the Davis County Fair Park. There
is also a Sailing Celebration
and Race Week at the Great Salt Lake.
Competitions are
the theme of June’s festivals, with the Utah
Scottish Association Highland Games at Fort Douglas, the Salt
Lake Classic (10K, 5K run and walk) and the International
Piano Festival. In the latter, international protegees and
performers play in a world-class competition. The Utah
Arts Festival is also this month.
Fourth
of July Celebrations abound,
setting off a month of exciting festivals and events. There’s the Desert
News Marathon and the Days
of ’47 Parade and Rodeo, the Jazz
and Blues Festival at Snowbird and the Inter-tribal
Native American Celebration. Art enthusiasts will enjoy the Gallery
Stroll through Salt Lake’s downtown art spots.
August brings an
international cornucopia of events like Swiss
Independence Day Celebration at Sugar House Park, Polynesian Festival, Belly
Dancing Festival at Liberty Park and the International Festival at the International Peace Gardens. You
won’t even need a passport to sample these events! Other events
include the Concert Series
at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum and Harvest
Days at This is The Place Heritage Park.
Celebrate the last
days of summer at the Utah
State Fair at the Fair Park, during Mexican
Independence Day Celebrations or at Greek
Festival at the Utah Hellenic Center. Octoberfest
at Snowbird takes place weekends through October.
There are events in
October to meet the interests of practically every local and
visitor. Welcome fall with a Star
Gazing Party sponsored by Hansen Planetarium. Watch the Buffalo
Round-Up on Antelope Island or thrill to the World of Speed Finals, land speed racing on the Bonneville Salt
Flats. The Latin American
Festival takes place at the Gallivan Center.
Get ready for the
winter season in November with assorted holiday fare. There is a Dickens
Christmas Festival, Lighting
of Temple Square and Downtown Christmas Lights, Festival
of Lights at Wheeler Farm, and Candlelight
Tours at Old Desert Village.
December continues
the Christmas celebrations with a Festival
of Trees at the Salt Palace Convention Center, The Nutcracker performed by Ballet West and the Temple
Square Christmas Concert Series. First
Night, a non-alcoholic New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts,
takes place throughout downtown Salt Lake and can be enjoyed by the
whole family.
For
more information on these and other festivals and events,
contact the Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau at
800-453-1360 or www.parkcityinfo.com
or the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau at
801-521-2822 or www.visitsaltlake.com.
|
