Your Summer and Fall Guide to Utah Events
Utah may be known for its snowy slopes, yet our summers have much to offer, too. One or all of these events are sure to please.
OAKLEY CITY RODEO
The Oakley PRCA Rodeo is more than just a rodeo–it’s a 4-day Independence Day celebration complete with a 5K Run/Walk, a parade, and a softball tournament. The kids can even get involved by signing up for the junior rodeo to be held on the afternoon of the 4th.
To make the holiday weekend even better, each nightly rodeo is followed by fireworks. Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased online.
PARK CITY UTAH OLYMPIC PARK
The 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games are long over, but the Utah Olympic Park remains one of the most popular destinations in Utah. The Olympic training site houses sliding tracks, zip lines, ski jumps, a climbing wall, and a museum.
You and your family can visit for a day or purchase season passes to enjoy the park all summer long. The park also has nature trails for hiking and biking, as well as a Discovery Zone for kids. For a unique experience that is both fun and supports the park, you can attend the Anti-Gala on July 19th.
PARK CITY’S PARK SILLY
To experience the best food, art, and music Park City has offer all at once, head over to Park City’s historic Main Street on a Sunday. Park Silly Sunday Market is hosted every Sunday during the summer from 10:00-5:00.
Concerts, beer gardens, vendors, kids’ activities, a farmers market–Park Silly has everything you need to end the weekend. The event also supports professionals and emerging talent by featuring local artists and chefs, making Park Silly the best place to get to know the community.
MIDWAY SOLDIER HOLLOW CLASSIC
If you are looking for entertainment over Labor Day weekend, look no further than Midway, Utah. The Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship has attracted over 28,000 people, and with good reason. The event is an invitational; 64 dogs and handlers from 17 countries are invited based on scores from both national and international trials.
Visitors sit in stands in front of the corral where the dogs–after being sent by their handler down a hill–herd their portion of about 350 sheep. If the main event isn’t enough to lure you, the food, games, and other dog sports and competitions surely will.
TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES IN DOWNTOWN SLC
From indie rock and blues to hip-hop and reggae, the Salt Lake Community College Twilight Concert Series has something for every music lover. The concert series, produced by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, is one of the oldest and most popular art programs, bringing in renowned artists and local cuisine. This year, the concerts will be held on August 16th, 23rd, and 30th as well as September 6th and 13th. Advance tickets are only $10 or $15 at the box office.
TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES – OGDEN
If the lineup for the downtown concert series doesn’t interest you, you can check out the Ogden’s Twilight Concert Series every Thursday. This series is newer but has seen so much success that they’ve extended the series into July and August for 2018. Upcoming concerts include Sylvan Esso, Broken Social Scene, and CVURCHES. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Season passes are also available, and all ticket purchases come with train fare for a stress-free commute.
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Drama lovers have plenty to look forward to from June to October. The award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, hosted by Southern Utah University, attracts nearly 120,000 people every year. This year, you and your family can be swept up into the tragedy that is Shakespeare’s “Othello” or laugh along with “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” If neither of those plays suits you, not to worry–there are six more plays from which to choose!
HEBER VALLEY COWBOY POETRY FESTIVAL
A chance roadside chat between three cowboys in 1994 was all it took to get the Heber Valley Cowboy Poetry Festival started. When Tom Whitaker, Ben Quinters, and Kim Cutler discovered they each had a knack for cowboy poetry, they decided to host a small gathering of fellow poets and musicians. The event was far from small, however–instead of the expected 15 or 20 people, 250 showed up, and the event has been growing ever since.
This year’s gathering will be held October 24th through the 28th. General admission is $12, but that fee is waived with any purchase of a same-day concert ticket. From dance classes to shooting competitions, there are plenty of events to keep you entertained all weekend long.
UTAH IS THE PLACE TO BE
With an event, concert, or festival happening almost every weekend, it is obvious that you will never be at a loss for something to do in Utah. Each of these events celebrates the diverse talent and culture Utah has to offer. At Blakemore, we genuinely believe that events like these are what makes Utah an outstanding place to live.
