The Kimball Arts Festival is an open-air three-day celebration and appreciation of the artistic process and creation. The anticipated annual event is one of the top-ranked art festivals in the country and a favorite summer activity of Summit County residents and visitors. The festival connects artists and collectors and promotes opportunities for local and emerging artists. A jury selection of nearly 200 artists representing 13 mediums, interactive education programs, and live music culminate August 1-3 for an unforgettable weekend. There are diverse opportunities to enjoy the happenings, like free admittance on Local's Night and enhanced VIP and Weekender Pass perks.
Purchase tickets beforehand to avoid lines and price increases at the gate.
Daily tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 6 – 17.
Friday night is Local's Night, which means Park City and Summit County residents, second homeowners, and all Main Street employees can pre-register to receive free admission! The free admission is a nod of appreciation to the Park City community.
"Friday night is such a special moment for Park City locals to come and gather and get the first glance," Meisha explains. "And what's also fascinating is that the artists will comment, Park City's Friday night is one of the best Friday nights in all of the festivals they go to because of our community.
Festival Access Pro Tip
Take public transit, walk, or ride your bike!
Parking is limited and we want to be sure that everyone is doing their part to reduce congestion and emissions! Purchase tickets on the website (even the day of) to avoid at-the-gate price increases. Pick up a festival guide and a map to plot out the weekend. Stop by education booths for an interactive experience, check out live music, and most importantly, have fun! Learn more about Park City transit options to plan the best way to get to Main Street!
"This is a not to be missed summer event in Park City. There's something for everyone. Whether it is your first time at an arts festival or your one-millionth time at an arts festival - we strive to create a fun, artistic, and creative environment for everyone who attends," Hillary exclaims.
The Artists
Diversity is a vital facet of the festival, featuring thirteen mediums; ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media painting, photography printmaking, sculpture, and wood. Attention to detail creates a platform for every artist to shine, which includes careful consideration and planning for mapping vendor locations.
"There is an artistic and scientific side of it, where we curate everything," Hillary explains. "You'll notice that when you walk the street. When we map everything, we ensure there aren't two artists with the same mediums next to each other in booths." The result, artists don't have to compete for the spotlight.
"Education is obviously a huge pillar of the Kimball Art Center. And exhibitions as well. We draw on those exhibitions to program Art Education Activities throughout the streets," Hillary explains. "All of our education activities are directly tied to our exhibiting artists and current exhibition . . . "
Educational programs are free enhancements for festival goers with the exception of a small fee to participate in wheel throwing and face painting.
Activities include:
Friendship Bracelet Exchange - Kimball Art Center Information Booth
Celebrate our ties to friends and fellow community members by participating in the friendship bracelet exchange. Make a bracelet and add it to the bin. In return, choose one from the bin to take home with you.
Friday, August 1st & Saturday, August 2nd
Face Painting - Kimball Art Center Information Booth
Choose from a selection of designs!
Sunday, August 3rd
Wheel Try It - Miner's Park
Watch demonstrations by KAC teachers and try your hand at the wheel. Handbuilding is available for people waiting.
*Experimentation is encouraged, pieces created will not be fired.
Design your own wearable art using stamps you create yourself! Add your voice to a shared collection by leaving your stamp behind for others to use.
*Paid Activity: Includes a take-home art creation
$3 for one bandana
$5 for two bandanas
Activity Punch Passes Available at the Creation Station Info Table
Flipbook Animation
Inspired by our exhibition Step After Step, explore how artists turn movement into art! Make a spinning thaumatrope and your own flipbook animation to take home.
*Paid Activity: Includes a take-home art creation
$3 for one flipbook
$5 for two flipbooks
Activity Punch Passes Available at the Creation Station Info Table
Window Art
Help create a giant group mural by drawing with your feet! Use chalk or markers on sticks or shoes to walk, dance, and doodle your way across the paper. Every step adds to our colorful, one-of-a-kind community art piece. This art experience is free!
Scavenger Hunt
Search for answers throughout the Festival, engage with the art and artists, and turn in the Scavenger Hunt clue card to the Creation Station area in exchange for a prize.
Sponsored by OC Tanner Jewelers who are providing prizes. This art experience is free!
The Kimball Arts Festival embraces music as another medium of art that adds depth and enhances the experience. "The musical acts that we have booked are bands that help bring this festival together as we wrap up the night," Meisha explains. "The programming really does have the power to create a nightly encore for the festival."
The Arts Festival collaborates with Mountain Town Music to produce an unforgettable show.
2025 Kimball Arts Festival Music Lineup
Heber Ave Stage
Friday, August 1st
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Muddpuddle
7:15 – 9:00 pm: The Pranksters
Saturday, August 2nd
1:00 – 2:30 pm: Shannon Runyon + The 3 Kings
3:15 – 3:45 pm: Kenshin Taiko
4:30 – 6:15 pm: Bad Frances
7:00 – 9:00 pm: Rage Against The Supremes
Sunday, August 3rd
12:00 – 2:00 pm: FLAMINGO
2:45 – 3:15 pm: Samba Fogo
4:00 – 6:00 pm: LOOM
Wasatch Ave Stage
Friday, August 1st
5:00-6:30 pm: Gina Osmand Duo
7:30-9:00 pm: Steven Bosco Trio
In the 56 years since the inception of the Arts Festival, the core values remain steadfast. Steep the community, vendors, and attendees in a diverse experience of art. The festival achieves diversity in artistic medium with the assistance of a jury. Every applicant goes through a competitive process to ensure a variety of mediums and expressions.
"We have a jury of art professionals; collectors, practicing artists, educators, curators, people that have a deep appreciation for art, not just contemporary art, but art in general. We have a panel of jurors that go through a double-blind process. They do not see any names or any additional information about the artists. It's just the artist's statement and the works," explains Hillary.
The jury plays a critical role in the competitive process. Each year upwards of 2000 artists apply. The festival only has space for 180 to 200. At least ten artists from the Wasatch Back earn a coveted spot. Additionally, the festival allots places for emerging artists.
Every facet of the Kimball Arts Festival embodies the organizing institution, the Kimball Art Center's mission to connect, inspire, and educate through art.
"Kimball Arts Festival is one of our most successful and celebrated programs. It's a primary pillar of our organization," explains Meisha Ross, Kimball Art Center's Marketing and Communication Consultant. "The festival's success is directly related to the organization's success and vice versa."
The funds generated from the Festival support Kimball Art Center's robust agenda and exhibits. "Every cent of net revenue directly supports the Kimball Art Center's year-round programming. That includes the Young Artist Academy, art education that we provide for Utah schools, the summer camps, and of course, our workshops," explains the Arts Festival Director, Hillary Gilson.
What makes the Kimball Arts Festival a prized event in the artistic world? It's the Park City community and the appreciation the festival planning team demonstrates.
"Artists love coming to our arts festival. Not only do we bring in amazing art collectors, but our community is made up of incredible art collectors," Hillary states. "We pride ourselves in bringing in the best artists and then treating those artists like they are the VIPs of the festival because that's what they are."
The diversity in art parallels the diversity in attendees. The event is for everyone, which enhances the festive atmosphere. "It's not just for the people purchasing something for $5,000. It's for people getting prints or their first original piece of work." The Kimball Arts Festival is for anyone excited and interested in art.
