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SALT LAKE CITY — In its last hours, thousands are enjoying the art, the music and the food at the 36th annual Utah Arts Festival.
The festival, currently housed at Library Square in Downtown Salt Lake, started in 1977 on Main Street. Called The Salt Lake Festival of the Arts at the time, it was, as organizers explain, an experiment combining visual and performing arts in an outdoor, urban setting.
"We had a parachute squad, literally, who came down and strung the wires and hung the parachutes over the main stage, which was right smack in the center of Main Street," said festival Founding Committee Chair Margaret Smoot.
In 1979, the festival moved to Symphony Hall Plaza and included an original musical production. But organizers still worried.
"I used to always wonder if anybody was going to come," said Utah Arts Festival Director Olivetter Trotter. "I used to have nightmares that no one was going to come."
In 1984, the newly-opened Triad Center became the festival's next location, and artists created a giant sandcastle at its entrance.
But the following year, the highly-promoted Sky Art was a bust. The huge helium balloons deflated.
People want to come to this festival, artists want to participate at this festival and performers want to come here and perform so I think our reputation has only grown, in a good way.
–- Lisa Sewell, Utah Arts Festival
In 1986, the festival began charging an admissions fee and fencing off the activities. For their 10th birthday, the festival brought in a community birthday cake.
In 1992, a windstorm toppled some of the scaffolding and damaged some artists' booths. But it also was the first year Rattlesnake chili was offered by one foodie.
In 1997, the festival celebrated 20 years, and it attracted artists from around the country.
Trax construction at Triad caused another festival move, this time to the Utah State Fair Park. Not everyone like the choice, and visitor numbers were down.
But in 2003, the festival moved to its fifth location, Library Square, and it suited both sellers and buyers.
"I've been a part of this festival for about eight years now and it's just a wonderful place to be," said Visual Artist from Prescott, Arizona, Mark Carter. "The people are very supportive of the arts here."
Last year's festival brought record crowds of nearly 90,000 people, and it ranked in the top 15 art festivals in the country.
"People want to come to this festival, artists want to participate at this festival and performers want to come here and perform so I think our reputation has only grown, in a good way," said Executive Director of the Utah Arts Festival Lisa Sewell.
This event traditionally kicks off the summer, and it's good for business.
"It certainly has a direct financial benefit to city government because of the sales tax that gets generated," said Salt Lake City Economic Development Director Bob Farrington.
As the Utah Arts Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary at Library Square, the performances continue, the food booths are open and there's art to look at and buy through Sunday at 11 p.m.
