If you’ve been downtown in the past few months you’ve probably seen the colorful banners with the word “ART” hanging from every lightpost. These banners are not just pretty reminders that art exists but also that the annual Utah Arts Festival is on the horizon.
As a Salt Lake native, the arts fest has been a part of every summer since I can remember. The festival has grown over the years to encompass all of Library and Washington squares. The area is covered in booths, stages and interactive art areas. Artists from all over the country display and sell their wares, ranging from yard art to jewelry with everything in between.
Though I love to wander around and marvel at the intricate, funny, delicate, detailed or just plain beautiful creations, my favorite part of any festival is inevitably the food. The arts fest food vendors are not known to disappoint with savory and sweet, hot and cold, really anything your appetite demands. One of my favorite booths specializes in the sweet and cold, perfect for a hot Salt Lake summer day. This gem of a vendor sells kebabs of fruit, chocolate and cheesecake. It’s the cheesecake that stole my heart. The decadent piece of cake is frozen solid, drizzled in dark chocolate and skewered for your enjoyment. So keep your eye out for cheesecake popsicles and buy one — worth every penny.
Though winding my way through the booths with a cold treat is interesting, it tends to get a little tiring and crowded. When the outside scene gets to be too much I find myself retreating to the cool sanctuary of the library. Many people are unaware of the movie screenings that take place in the library auditorium. The screenings are of short films by filmmakers who have submitted their works to Fear No Film, which attracts nearly 500 submissions a year from Utah and across the United States. The audience watches a selection of films and has the opportunity to vote on their favorites. These film screenings are free and offer a much-needed respite from the heat and the crowds.
Another great way to enjoy the festival is to enjoy or participate in the various shows taking place on the festival stages. Not only are there headlining musical acts but there are also poetry slams, readings and dances. The main stages are far from dinky, with big sound and light. It is worth it to get to the bigger shows early as it tends to get crowded around the stages. But with a little planning you can stake out a nice piece of lawn and enjoy some awesome local bands.
The Utah Arts Festival is a great place to connect with all things art and culture. There is something for everyone and plenty of ways to get involved and creative. The festival runs this Thursday through Sunday and tickets are 12 dollars at the door, eight dollars in advance.
@TheChrony