Festival City USA Is One Of The Most Charming Small Towns In Utah You'll Ever Visit
By Courtnie Erickson|Published July 20, 2023
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
There is no shortage of festivals in Utah. From the large cities to the smallest towns, there are reasons to celebrate, learn, and honor all year long. However, there is one place in southern Utah that is known as Festival City USA — and for good reason too. Cedar City, Utah hosts many festivals throughout the year including the well-known Utah Shakespeare Festival where thousands of people flock to town. But, even if you don’t visit during one of the epic festivals, there is still plenty to see and do.
Cedar City is located in southern Utah, right along Interstate 15 and just a short drive from both Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. It’s a larger town, with a population of more than 37,000 residents, and is surrounded by mountains to the east and desert to the west.
Cedar City dates back to the 1850s and was first given the name of Fort Cedar because of the abundance of trees in the area. While the settlers called them cedar trees, in reality, they were actually juniper trees.
Today, Cedar City is a place where many people come to visit and explore — especially during one of its many festivals. In fact, Cedar City’s nickname is Festival City USA because of the many events held throughout the year.
Some of these festivals include the Groovefest American Music Festival, Cedar City Livestock and Heritage Festival, Paiute Restoration Gathering, The American Southwest Classic Film Festival, and the popular Utah Shakespeare Festival.
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Held each summer at Southern Utah University, more than 100,000 guests travel from all over the world to attend the Utah Shakespeare Festival. In fact, this is one of the oldest and largest Shakespeare Festivals in Northern America and the festival has even received a Tony Award for America’s Outstanding Regional Theatre.
Held at Southern Utah University, this massive event is where more than 9,600 athletes come to perform their best. Approximately 50,000 people come to watch the various games and 1,000 volunteers are needed. Plus, the list of sporting competitions is extensive and ranges from basketball and golf to parkour and pickleball.
Although, if you aren’t attending one of the festivals in this southern Utah town, there is still plenty to see and do. Visit Frontier Homestead State Park, for example.
This lesser-known state park focuses on Utah’s mining history. It has a large collection of horse-drawn carriages, cool artifacts, areas where you can pan for gold, and so much more.
If you want to immerse yourself in nature and explore the red rocks, tackle the Red Hollow Trail outside of town.
This 3.3-mile out-and-back trail takes you right into the heart of Southern Utah's beauty and offers some truly remarkable views.
You can also take the scenic drive up to Cedar Breaks National Monument. At this national monument’s overlooks, you can stare down 0.5 miles into an amphitheater filled with red rocks, cliffs, and trees.
Have you ever attended any festivals in Cedar City? Did you know it was known as Festival City USA? Let us know in the comments. You can also learn more about this town on the Cedar City website.
