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- 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!