Posted July 25, 2022 at 2:53 PM MDT
Every first weekend in August, Park City’s main street transforms from a busy car-filled street to a bustling art-filled street fair.
The Kimball Arts Festival runs from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7, featuring artists from 28 states and three countries. The festival includes food trucks, live music and tasting tents.
The first night is free for locals. Advance registration is required – free tickets are not distributed at the entrances.
Kimball Arts Center executive director Aldy Milliken says this year will feature more new artists than previous years.
“We have 185 unique artists, 10 new artists, we have 14 local artists, which represents about 7% of the entire fair,” he said. “And then we have first-time artists: 54. So there’s a lot of new artists and new work to see. That’s something we heard from our audience last year is that we really want more new work to enjoy.”
Milliken says it takes months to go through the process of selecting artists for the fair.
“So artists submit to our staff and our jury, and then they are examined. It’s probably over 1,000 artists that we’re looking at, and it’s kind of unbelievable, it’s 13 unique mediums,” he said. “And then we have a committee that goes through all the stuff — it takes a long time. And then, and then artists are chosen, and then we have a waiting list if someone couldn’t participate.”
Megan A. McIntire owns Summit Gallery on lower Main Street. Her gallery has two artists participating in this year’s festival. She says that it is always a highly anticipated evening for the art community.
“I think it’s a really fun opportunity. I think it brings a lot of energy to the Street and Park City is such an arts-centric community,” he said. “And then to have this big event where everyone from the public can participate with local artists and artists from around the world . USA, I just think it’s a really fun and energetic event for the city.”
The art scene is the main actor at the festival; music is the supporting cast. There are two stages this year. One is on Heber Avenue and the other is at the top of Main Street in the Wasatch Brew Pub parking lot.
The main street will be closed to vehicles. Parking is limited in China Bridge. Bicycles and public transport are highly recommended.
Tickets to the festival are $10 per person per day. Children ages 5-17 are $5.
Visit http://Kimballartsfestival.org to pre-register for the free local evening
