21 Things to Do in Salt Lake City This Week · May 14–17, 2026

Festivals & Special Events

Living Traditions Festival

Annual free celebration of diverse artistic traditions featuring world music, dance performances, cultural demonstrations, and food at Civic Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 Friday 5 PM–10 PM, Saturday–Sunday 12 PM–10 PM · Civic Center, Downtown Salt Lake City

Queer Spectra Arts Festival: Troubling the Lines

Multi-day queer arts festival exploring identity and expression through performances, visual art, and community events at Sorenson Unity Center.

Thursday, May 14 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 6:30 PM · Sorenson Unity Center, Salt Lake City

Music & Nightlife

Arm's Length: There's A Whole World… Tour

Canadian indie rock band Arm's Length brings their North American tour to The Depot for an intimate evening of post-punk and emo-inflected indie rock.

Friday, May 15, 2026 · The Depot, 13 North 400 West, Salt Lake City

Kilby Block Party

Three-day indie music festival at Utah State Fairpark featuring multiple stages and a lineup of indie and alternative acts.

Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 · Utah State Fairpark, Salt Lake City

Andrew Schulz

Stand-up comedy powerhouse Andrew Schulz performs three nights at Wiseguys Comedy Club's Showroom at The Gateway.

Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 · Wiseguys Comedy Club – The Showroom, The Gateway, Salt Lake City

Bingo Loco at The Union Event Center

Wild rave-bingo party at The Union Event Center — an almost sold-out experience combining bingo with DJ sets, confetti, and crowd chaos.

Saturday, May 23, 2026 7:30 PM · The Union Event Center, Salt Lake City

Yung Bleu Live in SLC — Memorial Day Weekend

R&B/hip-hop artist Yung Bleu performs live on the rooftop at Eleven SLC for Memorial Day Weekend.

Saturday, May 23, 2026 8:00 PM · Eleven SLC, Salt Lake City

Food & Drink

Utah Food Festival

Two-day festival featuring tastings, workshops, and local food vendors at the Natural History Museum of Utah, with admission included in museum entry.

Saturday, May 16 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City

Sip & Slay Drag Brunch at HK Brewing

Going-fast drag brunch event at HK Brewing Collective Taproom & Bar — combine craft beer, brunch, and live drag performance.

Sunday, May 17, 2026 12:00 PM · HK Brewing Collective Taproom & Bar, Salt Lake City

Downtown Farmers Market 35th Anniversary Kickoff Party

Kickoff party for the Downtown Farmers Market's 35th anniversary at Squatters, featuring food from market favorites, Squatters' new Farmer's Daughter sour cherry ale, and a silent auction.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM · Squatters, Salt Lake City

Arts & Culture

Stephanie Saint-Thomas Art Exhibit: Whispering Woods

Ongoing art exhibition at Red Butte Garden through June 1, featuring nature-inspired works by Stephanie Saint-Thomas.

Friday, May 15, 2026 · Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City

Susan Kirby | Hannah Vaughn at Finch Lane Gallery

Current exhibition at Finch Lane Gallery featuring works by Susan Kirby and Hannah Vaughn, open through May 29.

Friday, May 15, 2026 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Finch Lane Gallery, 54 Finch Lane, Salt Lake City

Exhibition Opening: (Re)sounding

Opening night reception for a new art exhibition at Kimball Art Center exploring sound, memory, and perception through visual art — free to attend.

Friday, May 15, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Kimball Art Center

Rebecca Klundt and Michelle Nixon at David Ericson Fine Art

Opening reception for new work by mixed-media artist Rebecca Klundt and watercolorist Michelle Nixon, with a gallery talk at 7 PM.

Friday, May 15, 2026 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · David Ericson Fine Art, Salt Lake City

Outdoors & Active

Golden Spoke Ride

Community bike ride along the Jordan River Trail Network, celebrating cycling culture and the Jordan River corridor.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 · Jordan River Trail Network

Trail Run & Shoe Demo with SLRC & Altra

Free trail run along Bonneville Shoreline Trail behind the Avenues, demoing Altra Experience Wild trail shoes, followed by pizza and sunset views.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 7:00 PM · Meadows Trailhead, Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Salt Lake City

Family-Friendly

Third Saturday for Families: Flores de Papel

Free family-friendly afternoon at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts featuring hands-on paper flower art-making activities inspired by cultural traditions.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City

Free Events

Salt Lake Gallery Stroll – Downtown West

Monthly free gallery stroll through downtown SLC's west side art spaces, with opening receptions at multiple galleries including David Ericson Fine Art, Phillips Gallery, and 15th Street Gallery.

Friday, May 15, 2026 5:30 PM · Downtown West, Salt Lake City

Date Night

High Tea with A Twist

Elegant and playful high tea experience at the historic McCune Mansion — an almost-sold-out event combining tea, treats, and a twist.

Saturday, May 17, 2026 11:00 AM · McCune Mansion, Salt Lake City

Sunday Night Kirtan and Vegetarian Dinner

Community kirtan chanting session followed by a vegetarian dinner — a meditative and communal Sunday evening experience.

Sunday, May 17, 2026 6:30 PM · Salt Lake City

Sunday Vibes R&B Rooftop Experience

Season II of Great Minds Ent.'s rooftop R&B night with DJ Diversty (Miami) and DJ Q (Salt Lake City) — Memorial Day Weekend outdoor vibes.

Sunday, May 24, 2026 7:00 PM · Rooftop venue, Downtown SLC