Entering from the east entrance, visitors will be met with a captivating view of the Salt Lake City & County building in front of them, with the gorgeous glass arrangement of the Salt Lake City Library to their right and The Leonardo to the left. Nestled in the shadow of these three landmarks is the grounds for the 2025 Living Traditions Festival.
The Living Traditions Festival is put on by the Salt Lake City Arts Council. As the name implies, they are the group that is behind nearly all of the art festivals and projects that occur in the Salt Lake area and are determined to share the culture and diversity that might, unfortunately, go unnoticed more often than not. The first Living Traditions Festival was held in May of 1986 and has remained a constant through the years ever since, growing in popularity as time has progressed.
Live music and performances
The main appeal of the festival is the three stages that have live music and performances playing the entire time during the three-day event. The diversity in these performances cannot be understated. Just looking at the itinerary for one day, there are Indian, Greek, Jewish and Native American musicians performing at just that one stage. Furthermore, they focus on both modern and traditional arts.
While some performances stick to classic instruments and dances, some blend the traditional dances with modern sounds to great effect, with an example of this being the Raices d’Sudamerica, a South American dance school found in Taylorsville. Walking from one side to the other, visitors can experience an entire array of culture and diversity, and it doesn’t end at the performances.
Food and handmade goods
Lining the sides of the main path are artists and vendors selling handmade goods. These are based on tradition and range from henna paintings to Mayan weaving. So not only can you enjoy live performances, but you can support local artists as well. Though oftentimes, the art stalls are a performance in and of themselves.
In the middle of a clearing, there is a fenced-off section where blacksmiths work, and just a few dozen yards away is someone working a loom or carving a traditional wooden mask. There is something therapeutic about art being made live, using techniques and skills that have fallen by the wayside in our modern climate. That is one of the many purposes of the Living Traditions Festival: to remind us that culture persists no matter what happens.
Somehow, if the performances and art aren’t enticing enough, a whole section of 200 E. is closed down and turned into rows of food stalls. With nearly two dozen of them, it would be hard not to find something appealing. Not to mention the wide variety of culinary styles, which makes it worth going to the festival just to try as much food as possible. With low prices and a welcoming atmosphere, it would be hard not to.
Visit the Living Traditions Festival
Even though the Living Traditions Festival is only a three-day event, the festival is held annually, which means that if you missed it this year, it will be available to attend in 2026. Between the performances, art, food and free admission, it’s difficult not to spend a few hours walking around and experiencing the rich culture that lives in Utah.
l.utley@dailyutahchronicle.com
@luke-studentmedia.bsky.social
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