The Utah Arts Festival kicks off its 50th anniversary Thursday, June 18, transforming Library Square and the surrounding Civic Center into Salt Lake City’s biggest celebration of art, music, and food through Sunday, June 21.
This year’s lineup includes festival favorite BANDALOOP, the vertical dance company known for scaling the Main Library’s glass wall. This will be their fourth time at the festival, debuting a new piece called FLOCK, inspired by bird migration and the Great Salt Lake.
“I’m thrilled to have our boundary-pushing friends from BANDALOOP return to commemorate this milestone in the Festival’s history, which has included bringing world-class experiences to our community,” says executive director Aimee Dunsmore. Performances run Thursday through Saturday evenings.
NIGHTLY MUSIC HEADLINERS
Thursday: Digable Planets
Friday: Yola
Saturday: Shakey Graves
Sunday: Rubblebucket
Music fanatics also have a new upgrade option this year: VIP access for any night to receive top-notch reserved patio views of the festival stage. VIP tickets are limited, and only available online. $85 per night from 7pm-11pm.
Festival goers can discover nearly 200 visual artists, close to half of them local and dozens of bands will play throughout the weekend on various stages.
New this year: free stained glass workshops with Holdman Studios, where attendees can make a commemorative piece (limited spots over the four days). There’s also a new Locals Beer Lounge and a 50th-anniversary cider collaboration with Mountain West Hard Cider, “50 Sips of Summer.”
Discount Thursday opens the gates at 5 p.m. with $18 general admission. Friday–Sunday runs $22, with a four-pack online for $70. Kids 12 and under are always free.
The Utah Arts Festival runs June 18–21 at Library Square and the City & County Building in downtown Salt Lake City. Tickets and schedules at uaf.org.
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