Salt Lake City is one of Utah’s most fascinating and best-loved cities. There is plenty to do there in the culture department. However, if you just moved to the city or you are visiting, you may not know the best things to do.
You can find plenty of plays in Salt Lake City, not to mention galleries, festivals, and much more. Let’s talk about some of the can’t-miss possibilities if you find yourself spending some time in this thriving metropolis sometime soon.
The Living Traditions Festival
The Living Traditions Festival in Salt Lake City is an annual favorite. This is a festival that is meant to support artistic traditions. Salt Lake City is a hotbed of artists of all kinds, and this is a celebration of all that they do to brighten the community.
There is music and dance by performers from around the world, many of whom make the trip to SLC just for this special event. There are also traditional crafts, many of which are available for you to buy. There is plenty of food as well, as you can try an incredible variety of international dishes.
The festival normally takes place in May. That’s ideal, since the weather at that time is not as hot as it often gets in the summer.
Oktoberfest
What could be better than drinking some craft brews and getting to know your neighbors in a communal setting? That is precisely the idea with Oktoberfest, a festive event that is celebrated worldwide.
Salt Lake City’s version takes place starting in late August and normally runs through the middle of October. The craft beers are the star, but you will also not want to miss the dancing, live music, and the glorious food.
The food at Oktoberfest is hearty fare. You can try a bratwurst and some potato pancakes. Wash it down with a mug of Bavarian-style beer.
Even if you’re not a great singer, don’t worry. When you join your voice in a spirited song with hundreds of other revelers, you’ll probably sound just as good as you do in the shower.
The Utah Blues Festival
Salt Lake City is also a place where the blues music tradition prospers. The blues is a music form that is unique to America. It borrows from many other musical traditions, and its beauty and complexity make it a favorite for artists who break out into many other genres.
SLC’s Blues Festival takes place yearly and features dozens of live performances on multiple stages. There are workshops with blues artists if you are a musician who wants to perfect your craft.
You can also enjoy craft beer, food from the many food trucks, and soft drinks for the nondrinker. There is much to love about this bacchanal, but perhaps the most anticipated event every year is the gigantic jamboree at the end. The festival closes with dozens of artists contributing their musical talent to a wild free for all that truly encapsulates what the blues are all about.
15th Street Gallery
We would be remiss if we did not mention the many art galleries that are famous in the Salt Lake City area. It might seem strange to some that the artistic scene is thriving in this community, but that is precisely what is happening.
15th Street Gallery is probably one of the best-known venues in the city. This is a welcoming place where both known and emerging artists can showcase their work.
There are usually events taking place there, so be sure to check their calendar before you visit. Often, it’s open in the evenings for gatherings where the artist is present to talk about their work.
It’s an amazing chance to meet and talk to the individuals who are capable of creating so many beautiful pieces. Painting, sculpture, and much more bizarre mediums are usually on display. For the right price, you can buy one and take it home if it speaks to you.
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts
You can also visit the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. You can’t purchase this artwork, but you can certainly take some time to marvel at it.
The museum is considered to be both a university and state art collection. You will often find scholars there who will be eager to talk about the individual pieces and what school they belong to. If you want a tour, that’s a way for you to get inside the mind of the artists in a way that the plaques on the walls simply don’t allow.
The permanent collection is more than 20,000 pieces, and it rotates often. That means you might go one week and then be able to see completely different pieces when you return the following week.
The Red Butte Garden
Maybe you would prefer to spend some time among green, growing things. Salt Lake City certainly has you covered in that department as well.
You can visit the Red Butte Garden. This is an arboretum that features some of the most gorgeous natural splendor you can ever hope to encounter.
For a nominal fee, you can gain admission and walk along scenic paths that are lined with all kinds of flora. There are colorful butterflies in abundance flapping among the flowers. The trees sway majestically, and you can see many bird species in their branches.
There’s more than just plants and birds, though. You can also enjoy art exhibits that change with the seasons. You can check out their outdoor concert series as well. Many of the local musicians practice their craft and connect with their community at this place of natural beauty and delight.
If you visit Salt Lake City, you might spend a weekend in an artist’s paradise, whether you like paintings, music, or just about anything else. You can cap off the day with a visit to one of the high-end restaurants that make the city so famous. Bambara Salt Lake City or Valter’s Osteria are both known far outside SLC’s limits.
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