Summer Guide 

• Derek Carlisle

Last year, City Weekly's annual Summer Guide didn't appear until July—a recognition that, like everything else rolling into Year 2 of COVID life, things weren't quite normal yet. While we're not remotely pretending that "normal" now means what it did circa 2019, it's at least ... well, better.

So while variants still circulate, most of us are doing more circulating, as well. And as this drizzly Utah spring creeps into a sizzling Utah summer, you might be ready to do more of the things that you haven't been doing as much of for a while. Like having unapologetic fun, for instance.

The 2022 City Weekly Summer Guide is, we hope, a reminder of all the ways it's possible to enjoy what Utah has to offer when the snow isn't falling and the temperatures aren't chilling. We'll guide you toward off-the-beaten-track road-trip attractions, and maybe offer some suggestions on where to eat while you're farther from home.

We'll remind you of the unique pleasures of outdoor theater, picnics and farmers' markets. If you haven't been in a crowd around other people for a while, we'll gently remind you of how to enjoy your outdoor shows while being a good neighbor.

And, of course, we have you covered with the calendars you need to plan musical, artistic and foodie enjoyment throughout the summer months.

We invite you all to stay safe, stay healthy and find your favorite way to embrace this time in the sun. May we all appreciate it just a little bit more these days.

Scott Renshaw
Arts & Entertainment Editor

• Dan Richards
• Little City hosts neighborhood events in the Granary District.

Open Air Affair
Pop-up markets and new development fuel SLC's evolution into an "18-hour" city.
By Benjamin Wood

Salt Lake City's buzz is poised to bounce back in a big way this summer—and not just because of residents' social lives being throttled by a global pandemic for more than two years.

As traditional summer attractions like the Downtown and Liberty Park farmers markets—plus new attractions like Open Streets on Main, the Granary District's Little City and the west side's International Market—return to pre-COVID protocols, they also are poised to draw attendees from a rapidly urbanizing housing market that sees more people living in more parts of the city, who are looking for more things to do.

"One of the things that's really important to us—and I think to many looking at downtown—is transitioning from what we call a '12-hour city' to an '18-hour city,' which means it's vibrant for longer periods of time during the day," said Jessica Thesing, urban affairs director for the Downtown Alliance. "We see a lot of new residential development happening and, with more people on the street, it's safer, because you have more activity, people doing just everyday things and using downtown as the fabric for that activity."

An early test of Salt Lake's summer scene arrived on May 7 with the relaunch of Little City in a new space at 349 W. 700 South. In 2019 and 2021, Little City consisted of a weekly makeshift beer garden and micro-retail space built from shipping containers on the shoulder of 400 West. But for 2022 and—potentially—beyond, Little City has partnered with developer BCG Holdings to turn a dilapidated, street art-bedecked warehouse near Kilby Court into an urban event space.

"The plan right now, at least currently, is to do fewer but larger events," said Little City co-founder Michael Yount. "We've always intended to be somewhere for a few years and kind of reinvent what we're doing in some way. This gave us that chance without having to suddenly buy 10 more [shipping] containers."

The new Little City includes space for food trucks, live art performances, yard games like cornhole and, now, a full bar.

"We've never done that before—it's always been beer and seltzer," Yount said. "Because we're enclosed, we'll be able to have drinks in the full 8,000 square feet."

BCG spokeswoman Britney Helmers acknowledged the economic pressure to flip a property like the Little City space. But the cultivation of urban gathering areas is part of ensuring the success of neighborhoods like Granary, she said, where dormant industrial structures are being retrofitted for housing and retail.

In addition to hosting Little City (next scheduled for June 25), the space will be available for private events—at least one wedding is already scheduled, Helmers said—and will complement BCG's adjacent residential projects at the historic Utah Pickle and Hyde buildings and a planned renovation of old Ed's Place, from which Little City currently draws its power supply.

"There's going to be growth—we can't stop that. But how do you blend the growth with the local aspect? How do you blend modern with the grit?" Helmers said. "Starting local supports all the infrastructure. Let's start small, let's build on what Little City started, and then let's go bigger."

• Courtesy Downtown Alliance
• Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park

Also going bigger this year is the Saturday morning Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park, which returns to full hours and offerings after years of slimmed-down operations due to the COVID pandemic.

"We will have the full arts and crafts market, we will have our bike valet back, we will have the food fairway," said Alison Einerson, executive director of Urban Food Connections of Utah, which operates the market. "And after two years of breaks, we're also doing a kick-off party again.

Einerson said organizers were encouraged by the continued support for local growers during the pandemic and anticipate 2022 being something of a banner year. She emphasized that the Downtown market—which runs weekly on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., from June 4 to Oct. 22—has a statewide economic impact that supports smaller, independent agricultural operations.

"These farmers come from all across the state, and they rely on direct-to-consumer sales," Einerson said. "If they have a place to sell, if they have a reliable income source, they can stay on that land and not have to sell out."

This year will also see the Liberty Park Market formally taken under the wing of Urban Food Connections of Utah. The smaller, neighborhood-focused event was previously run by volunteers through the local community council, which reached out to Downtown market organizers for help during the pandemic.

"Just like with everything else, when COVID hit they lost a lot of vendors," Einerson said. "They lost a lot of patrons."

Einerson says the Liberty event will be moved to Thursday evenings (from Fridays) to avoid conflicts with Saturday's Downtown Farmers Market. It runs from June 16 to Sept. 29, and more information for both markets can be found at slcfarmersmarket.com.

"The vendor list for that is looking really good," Einerson said. "It's going to be bigger, it's going to have more produce."

After years of discussion, a brand-new International Market will debut at the Utah State Fairpark this year on May 28, with additional markets scheduled roughly monthly (except September, when the Utah State Fair is held) through Oct. 29. The market will be held in the evenings—all scheduled dates are on Saturdays—and will include culturally diverse food, art, entertainment and an "international" beer garden.

"We have five dates set," said Nicki Claeys, the Fairpark's programs and sponsorship director. "Eventually, the plan is to expand into being a full-time market. We're excited because it will really represent the west side."

Claeys said the market is part of a broader effort to more effectively utilize the fairgrounds year-round. Recent years have seen the reconstruction and expansion of the Days of '47 Arena and the addition of a competition-caliber state park near the Driver License Office (located on the fairgrounds), and updates to the Fairpark master plan are expected in the coming weeks.

The International Market primarily will be housed in one of the historic barns along North Temple, with indoor and outdoor entertainment and food trucks available nearby.

A new pedestrian entrance near the Trax Fairpark station has also been constructed for easy access to the grounds. "Public transit will be ideal to get in," Claeys said. More information is available at slcinternationalmarket.com.

• Courtesy Photo
• Entertainers wow the crowd during Open Streets on Main.

Main Street will again get an open-air market makeover with the return of Open Streets, a pilot that sees the downtown thoroughfare closed to vehicle traffic and converted into a pedestrian promenade on summer weekends, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

But new this year, Open Streets will include the full weekend from Friday to Sunday in place of the Thursday-Saturday schedule of the past two years.

The removal of cars from the roadway—from South Temple to 400 South, with the exception of the southbound 300 block by the Moss Courthouse and not affecting through-streets—allows businesses to capitalize on sidewalk space by erecting or extending patios, or providing ground for pop-up bodegas and buskers.

"The businesses wanted to take advantage of Sunday and the brunch crowd," said Thesing, of the Downtown Alliance. "We'll be putting money in the hands of artists to show up and use the street as their venue."

Thesing said that Open Streets started as an economic intervention. Downtown Main Street has long struggled to maintain vibrancy in the evenings when primarily office-based highrises in the city center empty of workers at quitting time. But that challenge was exacerbated when even daytime activity cratered as work went remote during the pandemic.

"We're a 12-hour city," Thesing said. "When the office buildings closed down and people decided not to—or couldn't— come to work, downtown was empty."

Both anecdotal and quantified reports suggest that the Open Streets project was a success, boosting revenue at Main Street businesses, in some cases over and above pre-pandemic levels.

With COVID restrictions increasingly in the rear-view mirror, large events returning to Gallivan Center and downtown's performance venues, and a pipeline of new apartments and condominiums opening their doors, organizers say 2022 could see an even greater demonstration of Main Streets' pedestrian potential.

Long-term, there is discussion of permanently closing Main Street to cars, as cities like Denver and New York have done to great success. But for the time being, Thesing said, Open Streets is an invitation to spend weekends in the heart of Salt Lake City and to imagine what the future of downtown could be.

"The main goal was economic recovery. Reimagining Main Street is a part of that, but it isn't a street party. It's for everyone," Thesing said. "It's not just for people who want to go to a bar. It's for families who want to feel safe downtown and enjoy the outdoors. This is an outlet for that."

How, then, will residents know when an "18-hour" Salt Lake City has been achieved? "The success metric is people doing people things on the street," Thesing said. "I don't know if there's a better way to put it."

• Courtesy Photo
• Living Traditions Festival

2022 Summer Festivals
By Scott Renshaw

Summer in Utah brings a wide range of artistic and cultural festivals, bringing both entertainment and education. Here's a sampling of some of the season's anticipated highlights (schedules always subject to change).

MAY
Living Traditions Festival: Salt Lake Arts Council presents the annual celebration of dance, music, arts demonstrations, food and more that make up the multicultural landscape of Utah. Performances often represent multiple generations, emphasizing the focus on the passing down of traditions from one generation to the next. May 20-22, free to the public, Library Square, 200 E. 400 South, SLC, livingtraditionsfestival.com

Queer Spectra Arts Festival: The fourth annual event showcases the theme "Tell It Like It Is," bringing together more than 25 artists from around the world to explore the intersection between queer identity and art. Attendees can experience live performances, keynote speeches, workshops and more. Masks are required, and attendance may be capped. May 21, noon-9 p.m., free to the public, Sunset Studios, 1400 S. Main, SLC, queerspectra.com

Additional May events: Chinese Folk Art Festival (May 21, Scera Park, Orem, utahculturalalliance.org); Scandinavian Festival (May 27-28, Ephraim, scandinavianfestival.org); Moab Arts Festival (May 28-29, Moab, moabartsfestival.org)

JUNE
Utah Pride: The state's biggest celebration of LGBTQ+ liberation rolls out the rainbow flags for two weeks of events culminating on the first weekend in June. Friday, June 3, marks the Rainbow Rally & Glow March from the State Capitol to Washington Square; Saturday, June 4 begins the Pride Festival, with vendors and live entertainment at Washington Square; and Sunday, June 5, brings the Pride Parade, with colorful floats on a route through downtown beginning at 10 a.m. June 3-5, various locations and times, SLC, utahpridecenter.org

Holi Festival of Colors: Come home doused in rainbow-hued corn starch but with a vibe of peace and unity. Live music and dance performances, plus yoga sessions, alternate with the famous hourly "color throws" (available only for purchase on site). June 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., $7 preregistration, Krishna Temple SLC, 965 E. 3370 South, Millcreek, festivalofcolorsusa.com

Utah Arts Festival: After the 2020 cancellation and a later summer date in 2021, the annual showcase of all things artistic returns to its more traditional June dates. Live stages feature local and national music acts, plus dance and other performing arts presentations; the Salt Lake City Public Library auditorium hosts the Fear No Film short film festival; and, of course, the artist marketplace showcases the work of visual artists from around the state, region and country—in virtually every possible medium. June 23-26, $13-$15 daily adult admission, $45 full-festival passes, Library and Washington squares, 200 E. 400 South, SLC, uaf.org

Additional June events: Ogden Arts Festival (June 11-12, Union Station, Ogden, ogdenartsfestival.com); Anime Town Utah (June 10-12, Legacy Events Center, Farmington, animecons.com); Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games (June 10-12, Utah State Fairpark, SLC, utahscottish.blogspot.com); Juneteenth Utah Freedom and Heritage Festival (June 10-30, statewide observances, https://bit.ly/3PqjITl ); Utah Foster Care Chalk Art Festival (June 17-19, The Gateway, SLC, atthegateway.com)

JULY
Utah Asian Festival: The 45th annual installment continues its run as the oldest, continuously running festival of its kind west of the Mississippi. This collaborative effort by the many Asian cultures represented in Utah features live performances of music and dance, vendors, family-friendly crafts and plenty of delicious food options. July 9, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., free admission/$5 parking or accessible by UTA Trax/transit, Utah State Fairpark Grand Building (155 N. 1000 West), SLC, utahasianfestival.org

Native American Celebration in the Park: Traditionally programmed as a counterpoint to the local events highlighting the arrival of white settlers to the Salt Lake Valley, this powwow brings together regional tribes for traditional dancing and drumming. Enjoy authentic food and stick around for the fireworks presentation closing out the evening. July 23, noon-10 p.m., free admission, Liberty Park, 600 E. 1100 South, SLC, nacippowwow.wixsite.com/nacippowwowfestival

Days of '47: Tales of Utah's Mormon pioneers are at the center of this annual reminder that "this is the place." Rodeos and other events take place throughout the month, leading up to the big showcase events on Saturday, July 23, including the morning marathon and the KSL Days of '47 Parade through downtown. Various dates, SLC, daysof47.com

Additional July events: Springville World Folkfest (July 25-30, various locations, Springville, worldfolkfest.squarespace.com); Mega Peruvian Festival (July 29-30, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, SLC, facebook.com/fiestas.delperu )

AUGUST
Park City Kimball Arts Festival: Get a respite from the valley heat by heading into the mountains for an outdoor celebration of the arts. Live music stages offer daily entertainment, while artist booths line Main Street for wonderful creators of paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry and more. Aug. 5-7, $5-$10 per day, VIP passes for $175, Main Street, Park City, parkcitykimballartsfestival.org

Craft Lake City DIY Fest: Makers of Utah, unite! Craft Lake City celebrates locally created works of music, art, food and technology and its annual festival. Support the work of hundreds of local creators and entrepreneurs and enjoy live performances. Aug. 12-14, ticket info TBA, Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West, SLC, craftlakecity.com/diy-festival-2022

City Weekly's Utah Beer Festival: If you dig the brew, this one's for you. Breweries and distilleries from Utah, the West and around the country show off their unique creations for your sampling enjoyment at our 12th installment, while attendees also get a chance to explore other vendors and enjoy live performances. Aug. 20-21, 2 p.m.-8 p.m., $25/day, Rio Grande Street at The Gateway, SLC, utahbeerfestival.com

Utah Renaissance Fair: Explore the world of Renaissance Europe, preferably in your own era-appropriate costume. Entertainment includes music, jousting exhibitions by Knights of Mayhem, armored battles, storytelling and more, plus an authentic Tudor-era village with vendors, crafts, food and more. Aug. 26-27, tickets TBA at press time, Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi, utahrenfaire.org

Additional August event: Ogden Pride (Aug. 7, Ogden Amphitheater, ogdenpride.org)

SEPTEMBER
Urban Arts Festival: The state's largest free arts festival, presented by Utah Arts Alliance, offers a stage for unique local creators, along with live music and other live performances. Sept. 2-4, location TBA, utaharts.org/en/urban-arts-festival

Utah Greek Festival: Opa, Utah! For more than 45 years, the Utah Greek community has come together for a community party complete with authentic cultural dance performances, music and terrific food. Sept. 9-11, $3 admission, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 279 S. 300 West, SLC, saltlakegreekfestival.com

FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention: From vendors of all kinds, to cosplay, to special guests from the worlds of movies, television, comic books and more, it's the state's biggest celebration of popular culture. Announced guests at press time include Cary Elwes, Vincent D'Onofrio and Stephen Amell (Arrow), with public Q&A sessions, autographs and photo opportunities. Sept. 22-24, $20-$40 daily passes, $50-$295 full passes, Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, SLC, fanxsaltlake.com

Additional September events: Midway Swiss Days (Sept. 2-3, Midway, midwayswissdays.org)

• Courtesy Photo
• The ATK Promontory Rocket Garden in Corinne

Sentimental journeys
When taking your summer road trips, consider these unique stops.
By Thomas Crone

Utah's blessed with more than a few guidebook-worthy attractions, many of them accessible within a couple hours and visible from the comfort of your own automobile (e.g., the internationally known "Spiral Jetty," which, due to our drought, is no longer submerged by the Great Salt Lake and is completely visible). For some travelers, though, the appeal lies not so much in the sites that register with the masses or mainstream tour flyers. The fun, instead, lies in the hunt for the weird, the obscure, the forgotten.

Among these sites, too, Utah doesn't lack for options.

Here're a few throwbacks to the past you may've missed on your own adventures. Some can be completed quickly, while on your way to/from other locations. We'll give you a quick location check, with miles and time logged from a convenient starting point for any trip, Coffee Garden (98 E. 900 South).

ATK Promontory Rocket Garden (9160 N. Highway 83, Corinne). Total travel: 81 minutes; 83 miles. Located a goodly ways outside of Corinne, this boneyard to the 20th century's finest space technology sees a host of rockets, missiles and pieces of actual space shuttles displayed in an open air setting, set just off the highway. Also, it's not a far jump to Marble Park, listed below.

Historic Wendover Airfield (352 E. Airport Way, Wendover): Total travel: 104 minutes; 123 miles. There's an official museum, which is a fine place to learn about the history of this WWII flight hub. But you can also just wander about the facility, which offers a relaxed way to self-tour a partially intact vision of Utah's wartime past. There are also some smaller, satellite museum-like displays within the old barracks; some of these are open, some are not, some require secret passwords. (No lie.)

Iosepa Historical Memorial (Iosepa Road, Grantsville): Total travel: 62 minutes; 61 miles. The history of this Skull Valley ghost town was a relatively brief one, lasting only from 1889–1917, with Polynesian LDS members the core population. Though all members of the settlement had left during the time of WWI, an annual festival finds descendants of the small town meeting here; structures for their annual gatherings remain, such as a playground and a basketball court. Those elements juxtapose with a large gravesite that sees death dates going back a full century. You can have a very thoughtful moment here, weather permitting, with striking views in all directions.

Marble Park (116 N. Tremont St., Tremonton). Total travel: 73 minutes; 76 miles (Note: some maps list Bothwell as the town, rather than Tremonton). Let's say you're driving around the countryside near Tremonton. If in that state of mind already, you might not mind a stop at a park that just seems to pop up out of nowhere, full of metal-and-wood art with a heavy emphasis on 19th-century Western motifs. The neighboring businesses appeared closed, but the park's as open as can be, with magnificent views; in fact, if you throw horseshoes on a serious level, bring some with you, as you won't find many horseshoe pits with this kind of rugged, beautiful backdrop.

Saltair I and II (12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna) Total travel: 24 minutes; 19 miles. While we give the address to the "new," circa-1980s Saltair facility above, you can also drive to the remains of the original two Saltairs by traveling roughly a mile northeast on the outer road that feeds into Saltair's venue grounds. Entering through a slim gate that sees some historical markers on the other side of the fencing, you can walk out to the lakeshore, if so desiring, coming across bits-and-bobs of the first two Saltairs, including crushed concrete, rebar and wooden footings. Walking through this haunting section of the Great Salt Lake's footprint, you can truly imagine the life being lived here a century back.

Thistle (39.99134 N, 111.49824 W, unincorporated Utah County). Total travel: 69 minutes; 67 miles. Known online as "Spanish Fork Canyon's ghost town," Thistle's the kind of place you can drive past without much thought, with a single, worn building sitting half-submerged in water as you drive on US 89.

Founded in roughly 1878, the town lasted just a bit more than a century, having been lost to a fast-moving mudslide in 1983.

Today, there's not much town to locate, and GPS may leave you as you undertake the quest, thanks to the rural terrain. But the drive's a lovely one, and if you walk along the highway (with eyes peeled, of course), you can form a picture of the few-hundred hardy souls who called this place home—well past the heyday of the railroads that initially gave Thistle life.

• Courtesy Murray City
• Murray Park Amphitheater is tucked away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

The Sky's the Limit
Utah's outdoor theater options give summer arts a little fresh air.
By Scott Renshaw

From the mountains to the valleys, and from the Wasatch Front to Southern Utah, options for enjoying theater in the great outdoors will proliferate throughout Utah over the next few months. While there will still be quite a few places to enjoy a show in a traditional indoor theater space—including Salt Lake Acting Company's #SLACabaret, Hale Centre Theatre and more—here's a rundown of some of the higher-profile options for taking advantage of the peculiar seasonal pleasure of outdoor theater.

Sundance Eccles Outdoor Stage: The picturesque mountain amphitheater of Sundance resort didn't suffer extensively in 2021 with its production of Footloose after the 2020 hiatus, according to resort programming manager Alysha Jeppson. "We sold every single seat to every single performance," Jeppson says. "People were definitely so happy to be back."

Sundance presents its annual summer musical in partnership with Utah Valley University, taking advantage of the resources of the university's theater department, while the resort provides marketing support and a lovely venue.

"I think what's so fun about coming to a show at Sundance is that it is a whole experience," Jeppson says. "People come and they can either walk up the 500-foot pathway or they can take the tractor-pull ride up to the theater. We have a pre-show barbecue that guests can include with their ticket. And then our amphitheater is set against the background of Mount Timpanogos. It could not be more beautiful."

Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella runs July 21-Aug. 13, with performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets run $44-$48 for benches, $28 for lawn seating. 8841 N. Alpine Loop, Sundance, 866-734-4428, sundanceresort.com

Murray Park Amphitheater: Right in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, Murray Park's amphitheater hosts a full season of outdoor events, including three musical productions for 2022: Matilda, Sister Act and The Drowsy Chaperone. In addition, the venue features music performances—like the Murray Concert Band, and the Carpenters tribute act Close to You—to fill out the summer season.

Murray City cultural arts manager Lori Edmonds says that the programming was already back for a full season in 2021, and that "we did pretty well, considering, wonderfully so. People were just looking for something to do, to get out."

She adds that the location of the amphitheater lends itself to a pleasant experience. "There's something about being outdoors, relaxing and watching art, that is just so satisfying," Edmonds says. "It's tucked back to where you can't hear anything around it—no street sounds, no street lights—and you're just right in nature. You can hear the crickets, and sometimes quite loudly."

Matilda runs June 16-24; Sister Act runs July 15-23; The Drowsy Chaperone runs Aug. 12-20. Performances run Thursday-Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m., with general admission tickets $8-$10, rain or shine. 495 E. 5300 South, Murray, 801-264-2614, murray.utah.gov

SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre: Utah County's SCERA Center for the Arts doesn't ramp up its activities just for the summer; it merely makes the transition from its indoor theater to events at the outdoor SCERA Shell amphitheater. The grassy outdoor venue even allowed for socially-distanced seating and performances in the summer of 2020, according to SCERA CEO Adam Robertson.

The annual summer season features live music performances, movies under the stars and three full musical theater productions. For 2022, those shows will be Disney's High School Musical, The SpongeBob Musical and The Sound of Music.

Robertson sells the appeal of the venue with a pretty persuasive pitch. "The SCERA shell in the heart of a 30-acre park. When you're sitting there, you don't see cars and traffic; you see trees and mountains. To sit outside under the stars, enjoying great music or great theater, you just can't beat it. ... Even after the show people might sit in clusters and talk for a half hour afterward. There's a sense of community."

High School Musical runs June 3-18; SpongeBob runs July 1-16; The Sound of Music runs July 29-Aug. 13. Tickets are $16-$20 reserved, $12 general admission, rain or shine. 600 S. 400 East, Orem, 801-225-2787, scera.org

Utah Shakespeare Festival: The celebrated purveyor of great theater isn't just about the Bard—additional plays including The Sound of Music, Clue, Trouble in Mind and Thurgood grace indoor stages. But, it goeth without declaring, the great works of Shakespeare take on an even greater quality at the open-air Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre.

For the 2022 season, the featured productions run the typical range featuring both comedy and tragedy, including All's Well That Ends Well (June 20-Sept. 8) and King Lear (June 22-Sept. 10), both staged at the Engelstad, with The Tempest (July 12-Oct. 8) playing indoors.

The outdoor theater also hosts Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (June 21-Sept. 9).

Tickets range from $14-$90, and season ticketing options are available. 200 W. College Ave., Cedar City, 435-586-7878, bard.org

Tuacahn Amphitheatre: The beautiful red rocks of Southern Utah provide the backdrop for the stunning Tuacahn season. Tuacahn marketing manager Kristina Cannon expects another successful season for their shows Mary Poppins, Wonderland and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, but she expects there might be even bigger crowds this year thanks to one particular piece of casting.

"We are having David Archuleta performing as Joseph [in Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]," Cannon says. "Our actors are always Broadway-level, but this is different, in terms of interest."

While the setting of the amphitheater provides wonderful visual appeal, Cannon adds that there are unique logistical advantages to having an outdoor theater season. "There are so many things you can do in an outdoor theater that you can't do indoors," she says. "You can flood the stage."

Mary Poppins runs May 20-Oct. 22; Wonderland runs May 13-Oct. 21; Joseph runs July 16-Oct. 20. Tickets range from $32-$108, with season tickets available; performances begin at 8:45 p.m. 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, 435-652-3200, tuacahn.org

• Courtesy Photo
• Salt Lake City Greek Festival

Summer Food Fests
Your guide to living deliciously this summer.
By Alex Springer

I like to think of local food festivals as a trade-off for the miserably hot weather we can get in the summer. The lure of food festivals centered around diverse cultures and cuisines, along with the slew of farmers markets, are enough to help me get outside despite the high temperatures.

Based on my current forecast, 2022 is going to be a great year for food festivals and markets. Check out my guide below and start marking those calendars.

Living Traditions Festival (May 20-22, saltlakearts.org): The Salt Lake Arts Council will help kick summer off with the Living Traditions Festival at Washington and Library squares (200 E. 400 South) in downtown Salt Lake. Three days of live performances, markets and multicultural dining are one of the finest ways to celebrate Utah's beautiful diversity. I've tried so many of my favorite ethnic foods for the first time at the Living Traditions Festival, and I can't wait to see what this year's 17 food vendors are cooking up this year.

Park Silly Sunday Market (June 5-Sept. 25, parksillysundaymarket.com): This market begins its 2022 season on June 5, and it takes place every Sunday through September from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spanning the entirety of Park City's Historic Main Street, it's an excellent opportunity to snag locally made food and crafts while enjoying fun activities with the kiddos.

Sauce Lake City (June 18, chilibeak.com): Just in time for Father's Day weekend, Sauce Lake City is a place where fans of marinades, salsas and hot sauce can gather to celebrate their love of all things saucy. In addition to hosting several local sauce producers, Sauce Lake City will feature plenty of barbecue, food trucks, live music and competitive events. Want to test your mettle in a spicy pepper challenge? Then look no further. The event takes place at the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West, SLC) from noon to 9 p.m.

Savor the Summit (June 25, parkcityrestaurants.com): The Park City Area Restaurant Association is gearing up once more to host Savor the Summit, the largest dinner party in the state, served outdoors to diners seated at long tables on Main Street. You don't buy tickets but rather make reservations with a participating restaurant listed on the website. It all goes down on Park City's Historic Main Street starting at 6 p.m.

Utah Asian Festival (July 9, utahasianfestival.org): For 45 years and counting, the Utah Asian Festival has celebrated our local Asian communities. In addition to the live entertainment and locally made crafts, the food offerings alone make this event one of the summer's highlights. Check it out at the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West, SLC) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mega Peruvian Festival (July 29-30, facebook.com/fiestas.delperu): When it comes to Peruvian food, folklore, dance and culture, few events can hold a candle to the Mega Peruvian Festival. Foodies gather for the complex and exquisite cuisine of Peru, including dishes like lomo saltado and ceviche. This two-day festival takes place at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (279 S. 300 West, SLC).

Indian Food Fair (Aug. 13, indianfoodfairs.com): Heading back to Liberty Park (680 E. 1040 South, SLC) for its third year, the Indian Food Fair is poised to deliver another day of tasty Indian cuisine. After checking out this year's culinary offerings, attendees can also enjoy plenty of music, dancing and shopping. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Utah Beer Festival (Aug. 20-21, utahbeerfestival.com): City Weekly's own celebration of all things beer and cider will take place the third weekend in August at The Gateway (18 N. Rio Grande St., SLC) from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The festival will feature over 200 varieties of beer as well as food trucks and local entertainment.

SLC Veg Fest (Sept. 10, slcveg.com): Fans of plant-based dining will want to check out this year's SLC Veg Fest. It's a great way to discover what's new in Utah's plant-based dining scene as well as to chillax in the all-vegan Beer Garden. It'll be happening from noon to 8 p.m. at Library Square (200 E. 400 South, SLC).

Salt Lake City Greek Festival (Sept. 10-12, saltlakegreekfestival.com): Now in its 45th year, the Salt Lake City Greek Festival is one of the largest and longest-running cultural celebrations in town. Whether you come for the traditional Greek cuisine—dolmathes, roasted lamb, calamari, pastichio, souvlaki, stifatho and spanakopita (don't forget piping hot loukoumathes for dessert)—or the joyful music and dancing, it's always a good time. Look for the big tent at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (279 S. 300 West, SLC).

Festa Italiana (Sept. 17-18, festaitalianaslc.com): With fall in the air, we wrap up the summer festival season with Festa Italiana at The Gateway (18 N. Rio Grande St., SLC). For those who can't seem to get enough Italian cuisine, Festa Italiana features more than a dozen local Italian restaurant vendors as well as an Italian cheese tasting by Caputo's and pizza- and pasta-eating contests. Buon appetito!

• Alex Springer
• When in a picnic pinch, tacos to go are always a great option.

Pick Your Picnic
Enjoy the outdoors with this curated list of picnic basket mainstays.
By Alex Springer

The only thing that can make your favorite outdoor spot better is spreading a thick blanket on the ground and laying out a spread that defines you as a human being. With all the great grab-and-go food options we have nearby, it's not too difficult to put together a picnic basket that reflects the nuance, style and taste that you and your particular crew have cultivated.

For the uninitiated, however, creating the ultimate picnic basket might be an intimidating process. Regardless of what kind of picnic you are going for, it's a safe bet that the eateries and grocers along the Wasatch Front can provide the makings for a memorable picnic basket. Whether you're a picnic veteran or new to the game, here are some ideas for planning picnics with a flavorful theme.

The Curry Fan: Thoughts of curry are never far from my mind. But taking those smoky, verdant flavors on a picnic is a bit trickier that I would like. Rice and curry aren't the most transport-friendly dishes, after all. Whenever I want to add a bit of curry to my picnic basket, however, the team at Biscotts Bakery and Café (multiple locations, biscotts.com) has my back. The savory puffs at Biscotts are excellent portable curry delivery systems, and they travel quite well in a Ziploc bag. I'm a fan of their chicken tikka puff for its traditional flavors, but the paneer puffs and egg puffs are awesome for a bit of variety. To finish things off, I like to pack a few slices of cake—mango and pistachio are great ways to keep that Indian flavor going strong on the picnic blanket.

The Plant-based Fan: There has never been a more exciting time to be a plant-based diner in Utah. Right off the top of my head, I'd say heading to Buds (509 E. 300 South, SLC, budsslc.com) for a pesto salad sub or a deli classic wrapped to go is plenty for a nearby picnic. Their sandwiches are enormous, and they have plenty of plant-based sides to go with their colossal offerings. But let's say you want to get extra meticulous and curate your plant-based picnic basket yourself. There's Vegan Daddy Meats (69 E. Gallivan Ave., SLC, vegandaddymeats.com), a local spot that prepares plant-based deli meat like smokey slices and steak strips for all your homemade sandwich needs. When you need dessert, you can always hit up City Cakes (1860 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-359-2239, citycakescafe.com) for delicious plant-based baked goods.

The Charcuterie Fan: There are two types of charcuterie fans—those who like to arrange their own sundries and those who favor a more pre-arranged adventure. For the former, Beltex Meats (511 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-532-2641, beltexmeats.com) should be your first stop. They have plenty of high-end options for cured meats along with a team that will gladly guide you through pairing meats with the other charcuterie options you're considering. Caputo's Market & Deli (multiple locations, caputos.com) is another fine destination as you can get pretty much everything you need for a stellar charcuterie picnic in one stop. If you'd rather have someone create a charcuterie board for you, check out Harvest and Honey Co. (7011 S. De Ville Drive, Cottonwood Heights, harvestandhoneyco.com). Harvest and Honey creates gorgeous custom charcuterie boards that include all the trimmings plus a few seasonal surprises. On top of that, their boards are available for pickup or delivery.

The Dessert Fan: For those who eschew the traditional rules of a picnic menu and want no savory items whatsoever, you'll want a bakery that offers enough variety to keep you and your guests entertained. Fillings and Emulsions (multiple locations, fillingsandemulsions.com) is always a good place to start—their masterfully crafted cruffins, cheesecakes, macarons and tarts look spectacular when arranged on a gingham tablecloth or similarly patterned picnic blanket.

There's also absolutely nothing wrong with simply packing a dozen or so doughnuts into a wicker basket and enjoying them in the out-of-doors. If you're looking for something on the fancier end, Chubby Baker (317 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-946-4491, chubby-baker.com) offers filled doughnuts with passionfruit cream cheese and the subtly sweet purple yam known as ube.

For something more orthodox, Donut Boy (2194 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 385-528-0782, donutboyutah.com) and Donut Star (213 E. 12300 South, Draper, 801-790-2615, donutstarcafe.com) are great options for classics like maple bars and cake doughnuts, while also offering a wide range of special options from their rotating menu.

• Alex Springer
• No need to lower your dining expectations while on a Utah road trip. Surprises abound!

Small Towns with Big Flavors
Finding culinary gems while on your Utah road trips.
By Alex Springer

Another summer is upon us, good people of Utah. That means it's time to curate your finest road-trip playlists, pack up the SUV and hurl yourselves to the four corners of our beautiful state. Yes, there's next-level hiking, boating, fishing, spelunking, camping and glamping to be had once you venture off the Wasatch Front, and with all those outdoor adventures comes the opportunity to explore small town diners and eateries. Here are a few that I happen to love when I hit the road:

Garden City: Bear Lake is one of our most popular destinations for watersports and raspberry milkshakes—plus you can run up to Idaho real quick to snag a few lotto tickets if you're feeling lucky. Taking a trip into Garden City is a great way to cap off a day of waterskiing or zipping around on wave runners. You've got a lot of options for low-key eats on Bear Lake Boulevard, but Cody's Gastro Garage (88 S. Bear Lake Boulevard, Garden City, 435-946-3644, codysgastrogarage.com) should definitely be on your list. Cody's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is known for its lovingly excessive take on family meals. For example, the Cinna Block consists of a two-pound helping of homemade cinnamon rolls served with locally made raspberry sauce. What's not to love?

St. George: Whether it's hitting the links at one of the city's golf courses or getting some hardcore rock climbing in, St. George is just the ticket for a great summer road trip. When I'm in St. George, I often find myself craving a bit of Indian comfort food, which brings me to Red Fort Cuisine of India (148 S. 1470 East, St. George, 435-574-4050, redfortcuisine.com). Owned by the same family that runs Bombay House near Parleys Way, Red Fort excels at traditional Indian cuisine. Chicken tikka masala is always robust and flavorful, the lamb saag remains consistently rich and nuanced, and there is nothing more beautiful than a stack of freshly baked naan to go with the meal.

Moab: The home of Arches National Park, Moab marches to the beat of its own drum. As such, it's important to eat at a restaurant that does likewise. I'm talking about The Broken Oar (53 W. 400 North, Moab, 435-259-3127, thebrokenoarmoab.com), a Moab gastropub that goes all in on its signature sweet potato fries. At The Broken Oar, they revere their sweet potato fries to the extent of incorporating them into dessert. Yes, The Oar's Sweet Fries and Ice Cream is a savory/sweet combo that includes a bowl of sweet potato fries topped with ice cream. It's a decadent, melty must-try treat when visiting this part of the state. Don't overlook The Broken Oar's smoked offerings when you're in town—sticky ribs, pulled pork, chicken and brisket are all waiting for your pilgrimage to Arches.

Torrey: A visit to Capitol Reef is fun on many levels—beautiful views, invigorating hikes and plenty of local history. It also brings visitors to towns such as Torrey and Bicknell which are home to some of our state's most unexpected food treasures. In Torrey, you can check out Hunt & Gather Restaurant (599 W. Main St., Torrey, 435-425-3070, huntandgatherrestaurant.com), which took over the spot previously occupied by Café Diablo. It's a fairly young spot that opened in 2021, but it's already made quite a name for itself with its menu of locally sourced entrees. If you find yourself in Bicknell, you must check out Sunglow Motel and Restaurant (91 E. Main St., Bicknell, 435-425-3821). Not only does it provide a solid menu of rustic diner favorites, but this is one of the only places I know of where you can get pie varieties like pinto bean and sweet pickle. The pinto bean always edges out the latter in my book, but you're not a true Utahn until you try both at the same time.

Midway: Whether you want to soak in the toasty hot springs or simply take a tour of the Homestead Crater, a visit to this out-of-the-way town is a great way to spend a few days. Once you've soaked up the geological history of the site and absorbed the therapeutic minerals from the hot spring, you can hop on over to The Blue Boar Inn (1235 Warm Springs Road, Midway, 435-654-1400, theblueboarinn.com). Inspired by antique European hunting lodges, The Blue Boar Inn boasts a multi-course menu that provides seasonal favorites like schnitzel, goulash and carbonara. It's just the place to mark a special occasion.

• Korn

Summer's Musical Highlights
What stands out about this summer's concerts.
By Thomas Crone

After a 2020 that saw a nearly decimated concert calendar, and a 2021 that suffered a host of interruptions, the live show listings for 2022 exist in a stark, even beautiful contrast. Look at all those dates! At all of those places. To hear live music!

Further in this issue, we've published a significant list of summer concerts and music festivals. This caveat, of course: Shows are still being canceled on a moment's notice, so take our press-time listings with that fine grain of salt.

But here are some interesting bits-and-bobs that struck us when putting together this calendar.

Those Hot Tickets in Ogden: Four of the eight shows at the Ogden Twilight Concert Series were sold out well in advance of publication: The National, Beach House, Modest Mouse and Flume all saw tickets come off the board quickly.

NOLA's Finest: There's no shortage of fantastic touring bands coming out of New Orleans, but Trombone Shorty pulled together an all-star team of support acts for his appearance on June 29, with a lineup that features depth and range in Tank & the Bangas, Big Freedia, George Porter Jr. & Dumpstaphunk, Cyril Neville and The Soul Rebels. A lot of times, there's idle talk about the need to "show up early for the openers." This is a show that requires that statement, as there's headlining-caliber talent all through this bill.

The Return of the Queen: There's no stopping members of the Osmond family from appearing on a summer concert calendar in the Beehive State. On Aug. 20, Marie Osmond performs at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre in Orem for a show that'll feature a full orchestra. There's something comforting about this.

Korn Don't Kwit: Speaking of a certain kind of comfort, the nu-metal pioneers of Korn are a staple of the summer concert circuit, playing outdoor sheds all across the U.S., no city too small. While other bands were waylaid by COVID, Korn soldiered on, even while letting go of their founding bassist. They played with replacement players, and Jonathan Davis sang while seated in a throne, all thanks to the effects of COVID. Korn didn't see COVID as a stop sign, but as a speed bump. They'll be among the host of acts headlining at Usana Amphitheatre this summer as they'll be holding down the stage on Sept. 9 with Evanescence.

Sandy's Swinging: In the battle of the amphitheater bookings, Usana in West Valley certainly has a share of the big-audience, big-ticket acts. But there's no lack of variety on the stage of Sandy Amphitheatre this summer, either. The venue's got contemporary acts riding the crest of stardom (Orville Peck, June 8; Fleet Foxes, June 27; heritage acts (Boz Skaggs, June 14; Little Feat and Hot Tuna, Aug. 1); one of yacht rock's finest (Air Supply, Sept. 1); and acts that seem to draw audiences of all ages (Elvis Costello with Nick Lowe, Aug. 25; Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Tuesday, Aug. 30). You can even check Sandy's calendar for a handful of free events, though they are of a specialty nature.

Indoor Shows Are Still Happening: Utah music fans have a host of opportunities to catch music outdoors this summer, but indoor shows are still happening. Just not as much. It's quirky to watch music calendars shrink at favored venues during the months of June and July, but there's still plenty of talent to be had via the great indoors. At least consider adding a buck, or two, to your tip line during the summer season, as the familiar faces at your usual clubs could be squeezed on shifts this time of year, after already taking smaller take-home dollars during the pandemic.

Festivals Great and Small: Forgive the shameful self-promotion, but keep an eye on the Buzz Blog at cityweekly.net over the next few weeks, as we're still featuring some late additions to the summer calendar, as well as adding details to those that are in progress on the booking front. We'll also keep an eye out for events at interesting, unusual venues plus first-time fests.

As an example of one smaller yet still interesting event, see Hometown Theory (ticket and venue information is found at: linktr.ee/YalltEnt). It's taking place May 21 3:30-10:30 p.m., at The Art Garden, 627 W. 100 South. It's an all-ages album release party for Jeff Dillon and The Revival, with performances from Petr Chubak, Mortigi Tempo, Racist Kramer, Tiger Fang and Spirit Machines.

• Dreamstime
• “These days, catching a band can mean peering through a sea of screens,” says CW music editor Thomas Crone.

Outdoor Concert Dos and Don'ts
A primer on the etiquette of being together again in a crowd.
By Thomas Crone

We are, most of us, familiar with the recent history of the United States, yes? We're still remembering how a public-health crisis at the very tail-end of 2019 accelerated at the beginning of 2020, sending out shockwaves of doubt, fear, longing, loss ...? COVID-19, this rings a bell?

OK, then. We're square. We all remember that concerts were among the many casualties of COVID, that 2020 was virtually devoid of live shows of any consequence, and that 2021 was a hit/miss affair, too, as the variants of Delta, then Omicron caused concert promoters, bands and fans a calendar-year-long master's class in Expectation Flexibility.

Now here we are in 2022. Though some folks have—for good reasons, in many cases—decided to continue a largely non-public lifestyle, much of America's back in the swing of things, attending shows and making-merry, the way we did in the pre-pandemic times. But we may've lost some manners along the way.

This isn't a comprehensive list of dos and don'ts for outdoor concert-going. It's simply a meditation, a riff, a reflection, a wish on how we could all be better neighbors as music fans. Feel free to disagree, as if we even needed to tell you that.

There's An Indoor Voice, An Outdoor Voice and An Indoor/Outdoor Voice: As the pandemic loosened and people gathered again, there were concert-goers who seemingly forgot about voice modulation altogether. For indoor shows, loud talkers can be a burden. But just because you're in the great outdoors doesn't mean that your great, big voice doesn't project into your neighbor's li'l ear holes.

If you're at a show gabbin' and gabbin', well ... why are you? Jennifer's soccer practice is honestly not that interesting to many. Joshua's C+ on the algebra midterm concerns few. Your plans to catch other shows this summer, which you're telling everyone about? Cool stories, sure, but you're at a show, um, right now. Consider watching it, listening to it, experiencing it. Edit your stories, leave out the details, enjoy the moment.

Cameras Up, Up and Away: Thanks to Steve Jobs and his engineers, everyone with an iPhone is the director of photography of their own life. But not every show needs documentation from every crowd member, especially those right up front. These days, catching a band can mean peering through a sea of screens, held aloft by those with the closest proximity to the actual show—which they're watching through a screen. Does the world need even one more, 77-second, shaky, partial-song concert video? Let's make wise choices.

Why Did You Buy That Ticket, Again?: Who among us hasn't sat in the aisle seats of an outdoor venue, only to be called upon to stand time and again for the interior ticket-holders, who are running out for a beer, a second beer, the resultant trips to the bathroom, the phone calls to the babysitter and various other faux-emergencies that keep them out of their seats for the bulk of a show. If you're spending as much time in the beer line (and then the bathroom line) as you are in your seat's warm embrace, were you even at the show?

Free Shows Are a Unique Animal: We've all been to the family-friendly, neighborhood- or town-hosted free shows, the kind that feature a yacht-rock cover band and free balloon animals. For these, folks have been known to pack a collapsible lawn chair, a picnic basket ... aaaaaand a folding picnic table, a tent, an anti-bug lamp, a rotisserie and a tumble castle. The mere idea of a free show can mean maximizing comfort, though setting up the equivalent of a craft fair vendor's workspace in front of the stage means that someone, somewhere in your immediate vicinity is hearing, but not seeing the show. You're at the park for two-hours, not the entirety of a Ren Faire weekend. Leave some of the accouterments of home at ... well, home.

Shoes Are Your Friends: Your soul is beautiful. Your soles are freaking out the people behind you. Wrap up them dirty dogs, please.

A Glass of Rosé Makes You Fun: But a bottle makes you something else. Moderation = good.

Read the Room: It's a simple one, this request. Read. The. Damned. Room. (And a room can be set outdoors, for our purposes.) Are you in complete behavioral opposition from those around you? It could be that their concert behavior is way off. Or it could be ... you. If you read the room, you may just find yourself a well-mannered, more-loved bee, doing as the swarm does.

Be Present: That's it. That's all. Please, just Be Present this summer.

• Courtesy Photo
• Ogden Twilight

Summer Concert Calendar
An overview of musical offerings at Utah's biggest venues.
By Thomas Crone

The Great Saltair: 12408 West Saltair Drive, Magna,
thesaltair.com
May 27-28: Get Funky Festival With Various Artists
June 11: Rex Orange County
June 22: Coin With Blackstar Kids
Aug. 6: Santa Fe Klan
Aug. 12-13: Das Energie Festival With Various Artists

Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City,
maverikcenter.com/events-tickets
June 10: Violent Femmes
July 10: Brit Floyd
July 15: The Four Tops & The Temptations
July 20: Lumineers
Aug. 12: Lost '80s Live
Aug. 27: Los Angeles Azules
Sept. 6: Ben Platt

Ogden Music Festival: Fort Buenaventura, 2450 A Ave., Ogden,
ofoam.org
June 3: Sam Bush, Amy Helm, AJ Lee & Blue Summit
June 4: The Grateful Ball, Missy Raines, The Travelin' McCourys, Carolyn Wonderland, Big Richard, Parade, Blind Boy Paxton, The Proper Way
June 5: The Brothers Comatose, Flor De Toloache, Stillhouse Junkies, Missy Raines & Allegheny, David Burchfield & The Fire Guild