Presenting our editor’s picks of autumn events in Utah. Mark your calendars for cultural festivals, comedy shows, concerts and more.
SEPT. 2-18
Moab Music Festival: The renowned music festival returns to Moab’s red rocks this fall with a distinct program of chamber performances, jazz, and Latin music. Unlike any other festival, Moab Music Festival asks audience members to hike to surprise “hidden” locations for quintet cello performances or board river rafts for floating concerts, all culminating in a four-day music-meets-whitewater excursion through Canyonlands National Park. Visit the festival’s site for the entire itinerary. Moab; moabmusicfest.org
SEPT. 5
Afro Utah Festival: This free community event celebrates Afro-global heritage through music, art, dance, and dialogue. Enjoy contemporary and traditional performances, Afrofusion cuisine, art and fashion showcases, and community workshops in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. SLC Public Library; afroutah.org
Sept. 11-12
Cirque de la Symphonie: Movement meets music in this unique collaboration between the Utah Symphony and world-class circus troupe Cirque de la Symphonie. Aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, and jugglers present jaw-dropping acts as the orchestra performs classic masterpieces like Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” and “Danse Boheme” from Carmen. Abravanel Hall; utahsymphony.org
SEPT. 12
George Lopez: celebrated comedian, actor, and producer takes the stage at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City. Throughout his decades-long career, he has advocated for Latino representation in comedy and uses his platform for piquant observations on racial stereotypes. Several of his stand-up comedy specials have earned Grammy recognition. Eccles Theater; live-at-the-eccles.com
SEPT. 19-20
Festa Italiana: One of the country’s largest Italian street festivals, Festa Italiana brings the tastes, sounds, and spirit of Italy to The Gateway each September. Treat your tastebuds to authentic fare prepared by 15 Italian restaurants from across Salt Lake, as well as imported Italian wine hand-selected by experts. More festival highlights include an Italian car show, a pasta-eating contest, live entertainment, and an arts and crafts area. The Gateway; festaitalianaslc.com
SEPT. 26
Witch Run Half Marathon: Dress in your bewitching best for a Halloween-themed 5K, 10K, or half marathon. The race ends at the charming Gardner Village, where seasonal activities, witchy displays, and boo-tique shopping abound. Gardner Village; runsignup.com, gardnervillage.com
SEPT. 29
Chance the Rapper: Chicago-born hip-hop artist Chance the Rapper made Grammy history as the first independent artist to win best new artist and best rap album for his 2016 mixtape Coloring Book. To celebrate the album’s 10-year anniversary, he’s embarking on a 37-date North American tour, where he’ll perform Coloring Book in its entirety, along with a few favorite tracks from his archives. Union Event Center; theunioneventcenter.com
OCT. 1-3
Park City Wine Festival: Immerse yourself in the world of wine during the Park City Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting, featuring live music and more than 80 wineries. Between dining experiences, join in on vino-friendly hikes and lifestyle events or elevate your wine knowledge with classroom-style seminars hosted by winemakers and sommeliers. Canyons Village; parkcitywinefest.com
THROUGH OCT. 11
SnowWiesn Oktoberfest: This fido-friendly Bavarian festival at Snowbasin is named after Oktoberfest fairgrounds in Germany. The free weekend event features local craft beer, German nosh, and plenty of polka. Visit Sept. 6 and 7 for Dogtoberfest, a parade of pooches donning lederhosen and tongue-wagging grins. The resort also welcomes a range of local and touring artists to its mountainside stage, with performances beginning at 4 p.m. Snowbasin; snowbasin.com
OCT. 31
Park City’s Howl-O-Ween: Costume-clad canines take to Park City’s Main Street for a daytime Halloween parade. Common sightings include corgis dressed as Chewbacca led by their human Han Solo counterparts, terriers made more terrifying in slasher-film disguises, and maybe even a miniature horse clomping down the main drag in a Beetlejuice sandworm getup. The event is free to attend, but expect parking to fill up fast. Main Street, Park City; parkcitychamber.com
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