Top 17 Festivals In Salt Lake City, Utah

1. Salt Lake City Jazz Festival [Last event in 2019]

What happens when two people with different political beliefs, yet having equal passion for jazz, have a discussion? A first-class, free-for-public jazz festival happens. Former Salt Lake City Mayor, Rocky Anderson, was introduced to a jazz musician, Jerry Floor, through his daughter when he was looking for a way to bring more jazz to Salt Lake City. Emilee Floor told the Mayor that her father was one of the founders of Park City Jazz Festival, and the Mayor was sold. One quick presentation from Jerry Floor, they both then came up with a collaboration that later became one of the most famous jazz festivals in the US, Salt Lake City Jazz Festival. Excitement for the event was so huge that they introduced a Road Show concept for two years in 2014 and 2015. After two years of hiatus, the festival returned to the public in 2017 with an even grander event, boasting world-class musical guests that are ready to entertain their fans. It’s been two years since the return and there’s no sign of stopping.

Salt Lake City Jazz Festival

Address: Varies each year

Website: Salt Lake City Jazz Festival

Takes place: June

Price: Free

2. Salt Lake City Greek Festival

First held in 1935, Salt Lake City Greek Festival is considered as the most successful community-sponsored festival in introducing the ethnicity, culture, and heritage of Greek people. Started as a one-day bazaar at the basement of Holy Trinity Cathedral, it now hosts more than 50,000 people on 3 days of the event. Each year, the festival has additional activities that excite the attendees. For example, back in 2007, the festival had to add another day on Thursday to cater to a visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral and enjoy even more Greek food and cultural activities. With the success of the celebration, the Greek community also put aside some of the profit they made from the festival to support charities.

Salt Lake City Greek Festival

Address: Holy Trinity Cathedral 279 South 300 West, SLC, UT 84101

Website: Salt Lake City Greek Festival

Takes place: September

Price: 3 USD

3. Rose Park Festival [Last event in 2019]

As one of the most diverse communities in terms of religion and ethnicities in the Salt Lake City area, it’s understandable if the community in Rose Park promotes their area through a community festival. Held annually in springtime, the festival is something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages where they can experience a variety of food and entertainment.

Rose Park Festival

Address: Rose Park Elementary 1105 W 1000 N, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Website: Rose Park Festival

Takes place: May

Price: Free

4. Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival

Originating in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Fringe Festival has influenced many cities in the world, including Salt Lake City in the US. It’s an event that spans two weekends, presenting original arts and performances in an inclusive environment. Everything from musical performance, stand-up comedy, to theatrical presentations are available for you to see. Several of the performances might be too niche for some people, but it shouldn’t be a reason that stops you from going and being entertained. Enjoy many entertaining performances that not many commercial platforms will offer. You might find a new favourite performer that is fresh and original.

Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival

Address: 2234 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, United States

Website: Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival

Takes place: July to August

Price: Varies

5. Lights over America [Previously known as Sky Lantern Festival]

If you want to experience Rapunzel’s enchantment in Tangled, then the Lights over America is for you. This fantastic event is something that can take your breath away once you see the jet black night sky covered in flying lanterns. Many people go to this festival to feel at peace seeing the beautiful view with their loved ones, however, it is said that there’s a spiritual aspect from participating in releasing a lantern at the festival. It can be a symbolism of letting go of a burden in your life or even letting go and moving on from someone who has been missing in your life. Then you will be walking back from the festival feeling lighter and ready to face a better and new tomorrow. Whatever your reason is to visit the Lights over America, you will still be in awe and feeling peaceful watching the brilliant sight in the sky.

Lights over America

Address: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah 84083

Website: Lights over America

Takes place: Usually held in May

Price: 75 USD

6. Salt Lake Climbing Festival

For the fans of outdoor activities, Salt Lake City has the perfect event for you - Salt Lake Climbing Festival. Here you can join the clinics for rock climbing, whether you’re a beginner or experienced one. You can participate in the clinic, dinner, and festivities that are held annually at Brighton Ski Camp. This festival is an inclusive event that also comes with the option of camping at Brighton’s Millicent Chalet.

Salt Lake Climbing Festival

Address: Brighton Ski Resort’s Millicent Chalet, 8183 S Brighton Loop Rd, Brighton, UT 84121

Website: Salt Lake Climbing Festival

Takes place: August

Price: From 30 USD

7. Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

This is a festival that calls out to all bird enthusiasts. This event revolves around the great bird migration to the north before summertime, and they make a quick stop at Salt Lake City to feed. Word on the streets says that it would be best for you to ride horseback at Antelope Island State Park to see the magnificent thousands of birds in one spot.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

Address: Davis County Legacy Events Center, 151 South 1100 West, Farmington, UT

Website: Great Salt Lake Bird Festival

Takes place: May

Price: Free

8. Utah Pride Festival

The mother of inclusive festivals and the second largest festival or the state, Utah Pride Festival gathers the LGBT communities and allies in one fabulous celebration. When same-sex marriage became legal in the United States in 2014, the Mayor of Salt Lake City at the time, Ralph Becker, held a private wedding reception for same-sex couples who wished to get married legally. If you’re planning to visit the Utah Pride Festival soon, don’t forget to check out their annual themes and make sure you’re wearing the correct outfit and dress code to the theme provided.

Utah Pride Festival

Address: Utah Pride Center, 1380 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Website: Utah Pride Festival

Takes place: June

Price: Free

9. Sundance Film Festival

This is one of the many festivals the world waits for, especially for movie buffs. The festival hosts a competitive section for a wide range of genres sent from the US and international films as well. There’s also a non-competitive section that will entertain the guests with various film preferences. Check out the schedules on their website. Who knows, films from your origin country might be playing at this festival.

Sundance Film Festival

Address: Sundance Institute, 1500 Kearns Blv. Suite B110, Park City, UT 84060

Website: Sundance Film Festival

Takes place: Usually held in January

Price: From 25 USD

10. Utah Arts Festival

Art lovers will love this summer festival in Salt Lake City. It’s held in an outdoor area of the Library Square, where it gathers more than 80,000 patrons of artists of visual arts, performing arts, music, and artists who work on a variety of mediums. This festival is also known to introduce new legends in music to its guests, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Chris Robinson, and Bela Fleck. If you pay closer attention to the musical performances there, you might become a fan of the new artists who are ready to launch their career.

Utah Arts Festival

Address: Library Square, Salt Lake City

Website: Utah Arts Festival

Takes place: June

Price: Free

11. Salt Lake Food and Wine Festival [Last Event in 2018]

Time to satisfy your foodie self. Explore the delicious events that support this autumn festival and spoil yourself with the range of delicacy of cuisines and tastes of wine from all over the world. Local restaurants also participate in this festival to flaunt their best menus and wines to the guests. It’s a festival that will make you crave for more.

Salt Lake Food and Wine Festival

Address: Depends on individual supporting event

Website: Salt Lake Food and Wine Festival

Takes place: September

Price: Varies

12. Holi Festival of Colours Salt Lake City

We know that Indian celebrations can be vibrant and colourful and the Holi Festival of Colours in Utah manages to take it to the next level. Dubbed as the world’s largest Holi Festival in 2017, the Indian community in Utah keeps on creating the most exciting Holi Festival each year that it almost makes you believe that you’re in India. Make sure you’re wearing the most comfortable clothes and eye cover, since you won’t be safe from the colour powders being thrown around, and you will be having loads of fun from it.

Holi Festival of Colours Salt Lake City

Address: Krishna Temple, 8628 South State Road, Spanish Fork, UT 84660

Website: Holi Festival of Colours Salt Lake City

Takes place: Usually held in June

Price: 3 USD (online purchase)

13. Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games

In a city that has diverse ethnicities, it’s only proper if there’s a festival to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture. Feast your eyes on the exciting and lively Scottish culture, from their music, dance, and Highlands sports. You can also try the famous haggis in this festival and you might want to keep your eyes peeled if you have a Scottish descent in your family because you might find your clan’s tartan while you’re there.

Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games

Address: PO Box 57476, Salt Lake City, Utah 84157

Website: Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games

Takes place: June

Price: Free

14. Living Traditions Festival

If you want to witness how diverse Salt Lake City is, then this is the festival that will attract your interest. Here you can enjoy many traditions and cultures from the ethnicities that live in Salt Lake, from arts, food, and dance to cultural traditions and language. The festival is held for three days and it’s free for everyone.

Living Traditions Festival

Address: 54 Finch Lane, Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Website: Living Traditions Festival

Takes place: May

Price: Free

15. Dickens Christmas Festival

It’s a shopping festival with a Dickensian touch. Attending this festival will bring you a different experience of Christmas shopping and entertainment, with its Victorian-era decoration and vendors and people wearing their Dickens-style costumes. Don’t forget to bring your children to meet Father Christmas.

Dickens Christmas Festival

Address: Salt Lake County, Equestrian Park, South Jordan, Utah

Website: Dickens Christmas Festival

Takes place: Usually held in November

Price: 8 USD (adult); 7 USD (senior 65+); 6 USD (children 4 - 12); Free (children 3 and under)

16. Downtown Yoga Festival [Last event in 2018]

Find your inner peace and healthier self in the festival that carries the torch for a healthy lifestyle. Downtown Yoga Festival brings you unique and exciting activities, where you can do yoga, meditate, have a get-together, and even eat healthy food. It’s time to let your wellbeing shine.

Downtown Yoga Festival

Address: 239 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, United States

Website: Downtown Yoga Festival

Takes place: October

17. Craft Lake City DIY Festival

The state of Utah is famous for the residents’ interest in hand-made crafts and in Salt Lake City, you can find a festival dedicated to their obsession with handicrafts. In this three-day festival, not only you can shop a wide range of hand made knick-knacks, but you can also join some handicraft workshops, then you can sit back and enjoy the art performances that will be presented on two separate stages.

Craft Lake City DIY Festival

Address: Utah State Fairpark, 155 N 1000 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Website: Craft Lake City DIY Festival

Takes place: August

Price: 5 USD (general admission); Free (children 12 and under)

There's something fun and exciting for everyone in Salt Lake City

The variety of festivals in Salt Lake City will tickle your curiosity and wanderlust. So, let’s plan your trip carefully to make sure you can make the most of the festivals available in Salt Lake City, whichever month or season you decide to travel.