Utah County has more going on than most people realize. The problem isn’t a lack of events — it’s that finding them requires knowing where to look, and most people don’t. This page is meant to be a starting point for anyone trying to stay on top of what’s happening around the county, whether you’re a longtime local or new to the area.
This is a living guide. We update it as things come up. For the most current events and a weekly rundown of what’s worth your time, subscribe to the Beehive Report.
Annual Events Worth Knowing
Freedom Festival (Provo, July 4th week) is one of the biggest Independence Day celebrations in the country. It runs all week leading up to the fourth and includes a hot air balloon launch at Thanksgiving Point, a big parade through downtown Provo, and the Stadium of Fire concert at LaVell Edwards Stadium. It draws people from across the state and beyond. If you’ve never been, go at least once.
Steel Days (American Fork, July) is the annual city celebration for American Fork. Carnival rides, parade, 5K, fireworks, and community events spread across a full week. It’s been going for decades and it’s a genuine small-city festival done right.
Strawberry Days (Pleasant Grove, June) is one of the oldest community celebrations in Utah. Rodeo, carnival, parade, and of course strawberries. It runs for about a week and has the feel of a classic county fair.
Payson Onion Days (Payson, August) is exactly what it sounds like. Payson has been celebrating its onion-growing heritage since 1914, making it one of the oldest ongoing festivals in the state. Parade, carnival, entertainment, and yes, onions. It’s a great excuse to visit Payson if you haven’t been.
Spanish Fork Fiesta Days (Spanish Fork, July 24th week) celebrates Pioneer Day and the city’s Spanish heritage together. It’s a big deal in Spanish Fork — rodeo, parade, fireworks, carnival, and a full week of events. The rodeo is worth going to on its own.
Timpanogos Storytelling Festival (Orem, September) is nationally recognized and draws storytellers from all over the country. Held at Thanksgiving Point and SCERA Park, it’s one of those events that Utah County should be more proud of. Great for families, adults, and anyone who appreciates live storytelling done well.
Where to Find Events
The honest challenge with Utah County events is that there’s no single place where everything is listed. City websites post their own events. Venues like SCERA, Thanksgiving Point, and BYU have their own calendars. Community Facebook groups fill in the gaps. It’s scattered.
That’s part of why we run the Beehive Report — to pull things together in one place each week so you don’t have to check six different sources. We cover events across Provo, Orem, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Payson, and the rest of the county. It comes out weekly and it’s free.
For venue-specific schedules, check Thanksgiving Point, SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, BYU Arts events, and Utah Valley Convention Center directly. Each has a solid calendar that updates regularly.
Farmers Markets
Provo Farmers Market at Pioneer Park runs on Saturdays through the season. Local produce, food vendors, artisan goods, and live music. A good Saturday morning activity and a reliable way to find local food vendors you won’t see anywhere else.
Thanksgiving Point Farmers Market in Lehi is one of the larger markets in the county. Runs through the summer and into fall. If you’re coming from north Utah County it’s the more convenient option.
Markets vary year to year in terms of vendors and dates. The Beehive Report will flag when markets open for the season and if anything notable is happening at them.
Festivals and Fairs
Beyond the annual city celebrations, Utah County hosts a rotating set of festivals throughout the year. Concerts at SCERA Shell in the summer. Theater productions at various venues year-round. Art festivals, holiday markets, and outdoor movie nights popping up depending on the season.
The county also benefits from being close to events in Salt Lake Valley while having enough of its own calendar to fill a weekend without driving north. Keep an eye on what’s happening at Thanksgiving Point especially — they do seasonal programming that’s worth planning around.
Submit Your Event
If you’re running an event in Utah County and want it included in the Beehive Report, send it our way. We feature local events, community fundraisers, festivals, markets, and anything else that’s genuinely worth people knowing about.
Submit your event here and we’ll include it in the weekly newsletter if it’s a good fit for our readers.
And if you want a weekly roundup of what’s happening around the county sent straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Beehive Report. It’s free and it goes out every week.