Get Your Art On - Utah Arts Festival

 Event Notice
Utah Arts Festival - Starts Tonight
Dates: Thursday, June 24 - Sunday, June 27
Time: Noon to 11PM daily


Oh Joy!  I love the Utah Arts Festival.  The first year I really remember hearing about the arts festival (I mean really remember it) was 7 years ago.  My brother-in-law was part of the "Brew Crew" (Yes, that is the beer guys) and my sister was talking about getting tickets for free.  Sadly, it took me a few more years to attend.

My first festival experience:
A few years back a friend of mine had worked on a film that was participating in the short film contest held at the arts festival.  We ate great ethnic food, we watched creative short films and we strolled the booths.  It was such a great evening it was hard to not come back every night.  A year later I attended to see a free concert. 

The Utah Arts Festival has something for everyone (unless you are one of those people who is never happy with anything).  There is great music, films, food, art and crafts.  You can really make the UAF whatever you would like.  Usually, I attend for the food, it is my favorite part.  I love eating ethnic food.  There are rows of food vendors there with every variety of food you could imagine.  I recommend going with a group and each sampling something different.

Located at Library Square, the festival covers the area from 300 East to the City & County Bldg and from 400 South to 500 South.
Not Free!  Check out link below to see ticket prices.  But don't forget to look around discounts.  You can get $2 off for riding your bike.  This year the UAF held a concert the week before (CAKE! was incredible) and gave out 2 for 1 vouchers.

Art courtesy UAF website (Leia Bell)

Every year the UAF picks an artist to design the art for the festival.  This years artwork was provided by Leia Bell.  Along with her art for the UAF she does most of the concert posters for Kilby Court.  I love what she did for the arts festival, each image is a different landscape of Utah.  Check out Leia Bell's work.

More details of the Utah Arts Festival complete with booth and concert info -  http://www.uaf.org/

Thursday Nights in SLC

Thursday nights are hopping around SLC.  Below is a list of a few FREE things to do on Thursday night in Salt Lake City. 

 Thursday

• Twilight Concert Series

Photo courtesy www.visitsaltlake.com

Usually held at the Gallivan Center, concerts this summer will be held at Pioneer Park.  The park has been cleaned up a lot in the last few years and is actually very nice although still not used much due to its proximity to the homeless shelter.   I will be interested to see where they build the stage and how everyone fits in the park.

The Twilight concert series has grown in popularity get there early and be prepared to be smash up against your friends and random strangers.  Concerts are free and happen every Thursday starting July 8, running thru Aug 26.

2010 Twilight Concert Schedule

• Jazz on the Plaza

Photo courtesy www.directoryofsaltlakecity.com

No, this is not the Utah Jazz.  We are talking Jazz music.  Head over to the Plaza (Plaza is on the North end, by the fountain & Barnes & Noble) at the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC for some good tunes.  Free!  Thursdays in June & July from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Gateway Jazz Schedule

• Movies Under The Stars

Photos courtesy of Movies Under the Stars Facebook Group

Movies under the stars at the Utah State Capitol is a great family friendly activity.  Films are shown at dusk on the southwest corner lawn.  Admission is FREE. Although I have never experienced the same romance as displayed in the movie "The Wedding Planner," it could bring luck to you.  Bring picnics, blankets, and friends.  Go early for some live local music. 

FYI the trees around the capitol are great for slacklining.

Movies Under The Stars Movie Schedule

What to do in Salt Lake City?

Recently, I feel like I have had a lot of people ask me for suggestion of things to do in Salt Lake City. I have been living in Salt Lake over the last 5 years (with the occasional return to my parent's) and I absolutely love living here. It's a decent sized city with lots of things going on and it is constantly changing.  SLC is very accessible (transportation/parking as well as the people) and of course I love the easy access to the mountains. One of the best parts is there is always something new I haven't seen, a restaurant I haven't tried or an event I haven't been to.
Out of this love for the SLC and the recent inquiries I thought I would share a list of fun summer activities to do around Salt Lake City.  So each day over the next week I will be posting a list of weekly reoccurring summer events that will be going on around downtown SL and surrounding areas.  Wed on Wed, Thurs on Thurs, Fri & Sat on Fri (because seriously I won't be on my computer over the weekend), Sun - nothing (you should all be in church), Mon on Mon and Tues on Tues.  So here we go...

 Wednesday

Sadly, I decided to start this on Wednesday.  I'm sorry I got nothing.  Salt Lake City is seriously lacking in a good Wednesday night activity since the Movies at the Capitol got moved to Thursdays.  Returning in 2011 Rock Concerts at the Gallivan Center will be held on Wed, but 2010 is "make your own plans" Wednesday.
If you know of anything going on in SLC Wednesdays afternoons or evening on a regular basis leave a comment and I will update.