A Tradition More Than Half a Century Strong

Every August, Park City's Historic Main Street transforms into one of the most celebrated outdoor art exhibitions in the country. The Kimball Arts Festival, now in its 57th year, returns August 7 through 9 for a three-day celebration that draws approximately 30,000 visitors to browse, buy, and connect with nearly 200 juried artists representing 13 different mediums. What began in 1969 as a modest community event organized by the Kimball Art Center has grown into a nationally ranked festival that consistently earns top honors from art fair publications and attendees alike.

The festival's longevity is no accident. Park City has always been a town that punches above its weight culturally, from its role as host of the Sundance Film Festival to its thriving year-round gallery scene along Main Street. The Kimball Arts Festival builds on that identity, offering a weekend where fine art, live music, craft food and drink, and mountain-town hospitality converge in a setting that is hard to replicate anywhere else.

What to Expect on Main Street This August

The 2026 Kimball Arts Festival takes over Historic Main Street from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. The festival opens Friday, August 7 at 5:00 p.m. and runs until 9:00 p.m. Saturday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday wraps up from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The setting is pure Park City: artist booths lining the historic storefronts, mountain views framing every block, and the buzz of a crowd that mixes serious collectors with families out for an afternoon stroll.

Because Main Street sits at roughly 7,000 feet, the August weather is generally warm during the day (highs in the upper 70s to low 80s) and pleasantly cool by evening. The festival is outdoors and open-air, so comfortable shoes and layers are the smart play. Plan to spend at least a few hours, though many visitors make a full day of it, weaving in lunch or dinner at one of the 50-plus restaurants and bars that line the street.

Nearly 200 Artists, 13 Mediums, One Unforgettable Weekend

The heart of the Kimball Arts Festival is the art itself. Each year, upward of 2,000 artists submit applications, and a jury selects between 180 and 200 for the show. The result is a curated lineup spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, photography, woodwork, fiber arts, mixed media, and more. Every artist is present at their booth, which means you are not just looking at the work but talking to the person who made it.

That direct connection between artist and audience is one of the things that sets the Kimball Arts Festival apart from gallery shows or online marketplaces. You can ask a ceramicist about their glazing process, watch a jeweler explain how they source their stones, or hear a painter describe the landscape that inspired a particular piece. For collectors, this is an opportunity to acquire original work directly from the artist at festival pricing. For everyone else, it is a chance to see the creative process up close and perhaps discover a new favorite artist or medium.

The festival organizers take the jury process seriously. Selection criteria include originality, craftsmanship, and the quality of the artist's booth presentation. The result is a consistently high standard that keeps collectors returning year after year and has earned the festival its reputation as one of the premier art events in the Mountain West.

Live Music, Craft Beer, and Artisan Cuisine

Art is the anchor, but the Kimball Arts Festival fills the space around it with a full weekend of food, drink, and live performance. Mountain Town Music partners with the festival to program two outdoor stages with acts that span folk, rock, bluegrass, and more. The music runs throughout the festival hours, providing a soundtrack as you move between booths.

On the food and drink side, expect a mix of Park City's best restaurants offering festival specials alongside dedicated food and beverage vendors. Craft beer from local breweries, artisan cocktails, and a rotating selection of wines are available at stations along the route. The festival embraces the idea that great art and great food are natural companions, and the lineup reflects the same attention to quality that defines the artist selection.

For those looking to make a full evening of it, Friday night is an especially atmospheric time to visit. The combination of cooler temperatures, the golden light of a mountain sunset, and the energy of opening night creates a mood that is uniquely Park City.

Education and the Young Artist Academy

One of the festival's most meaningful contributions is its investment in arts education. The Kimball Art Center has long been a hub for creative learning in the community, offering year-round classes, summer camps, and school outreach programs. During the festival, that mission takes center stage through interactive demonstrations led by Kimball Art Center education staff and kids' art classes that give younger visitors the chance to create their own work.

The Young Artist Academy is a standout program that reserves space at Miners Park for a group of local teens interested in pursuing careers in the arts. These students work alongside professional artists throughout the festival, gaining hands-on experience in everything from booth presentation to customer interaction. It is the kind of program that turns a weekend event into a lasting investment in the next generation of creative talent.

For families, the education offerings make the Kimball Arts Festival more than just a browsing experience. Kids can try their hand at pottery, painting, or printmaking while parents explore the booths, and the combination of doing and seeing tends to make the art more memorable for everyone.

Local's Night: A Thank You to the Community

Friday evening carries a special designation as Local's Night, when the festival offers free admission to Park City and Summit County residents. It is a deliberate gesture of appreciation for the community that has supported the Kimball Art Center and its festival for nearly six decades. The result is a Friday evening crowd that skews local, with neighbors catching up between booths and longtime residents reconnecting with artists they have followed for years.

Local's Night also reflects something broader about Park City's character. Despite its growth into a world-class resort destination, the town has maintained a strong sense of community identity. Events like the Kimball Arts Festival serve as gathering points where full-time residents, seasonal visitors, and newcomers all share the same sidewalk, the same music, and the same sense of discovery. For anyone considering a move to the area, Local's Night is an unusually honest window into what everyday life in Park City feels like when the community comes together.

Planning Your Visit to the 57th Annual Festival

The Kimball Arts Festival is free on Friday evening for local residents; general admission for Saturday and Sunday is available through the festival website. Parking on Main Street is limited during the festival, so plan to use the free shuttle service or park at one of the designated lots. Many visitors walk or bike in from nearby neighborhoods and lodging.

If you are visiting from out of town, the festival weekend coincides with an especially busy stretch of Park City's summer calendar. The Deer Valley Music Festival is in full swing at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, with Chicago the Musical in Concert on Friday, August 7 and Tony Award winner Idina Menzel performing on Saturday, August 8. Combining a day at the Kimball Arts Festival with an evening at Deer Valley is one of the best double-headers Park City has to offer.

Bring sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, and a sense of curiosity. Leave room in the car for whatever catches your eye. And if you find yourself lingering a little longer than planned, watching the sun dip behind the peaks while a folk duo plays on the Main Street stage, you will understand why so many people fall for this town.

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