Both the Moab Arts Festival and the Moab Music Festival celebrate 25-year anniversaries this year – and in honor of that shared anniversary, the music festival is bringing the musical trio “Time for Three” to perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, at Star Hall.
Earlier that day, festivalgoers can get a taste of their music when the group performs a short concert that afternoon at Swanny City Park, 400 N. 100 West. The Moab Arts Festival will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Moab Arts Festival draws roughly 100 artists from around the Western region, and as far away as Georgia, along with a dozen or so Moab artists. There’s been everything from tie-dye garments, and jewelry, to sculptures and “very exotic furniture,” said Moab Arts Festival operations manager Rex Holman – who founded the festival 25 years ago with executive director Theresa King.
It’s a “full-on family affair,” said Holman, with live music performed by various artists throughout both days, plus a hands-on crafts area for kids.
“We always have a tent (for craft-making) so parents can drop off their kids so they can shop for an hour or two,” Holman said. “Kids who came 25 years ago are now bringing their own kids.”
The festival features a wide range of art that includes pottery, woodcarvings, photography and paintings. Holman said he has seen many Moab residents decorate their homes with new artwork purchased at the festival.
“It’s gone far beyond your local neighborhood craft show,” he said. “It brings people looking for nice, unique items for their homes. It’s a well-balanced show with good variety.”
In addition to two separate stages where music will be going on alternately, another stage will be set up for Shakespearean theater, performed by theater students from Utah Valley Community College in Provo. The theater troupe will perform both Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Moab Taiko Dan Japanese-style drumming group will perform at noon on Saturday, and local magician Rick Boretti will perform at the park on Saturday at 11 a.m. and at the Moab Valley Multicultural Center the same day at 1:30 p.m.
The multicultural center, 156 N. 100 West, is further collaborating with the festival by hosting Navajo Hoop Dancer Joseph Secody, who will perform Saturday at 11 a.m., at the multicultural center, and then again on Sunday at 11 a.m., at the Swanny City Park pavilion.
There’s plenty of food and drink that will be for sale during the festival – including barbecue, roasted ears of corn, Greek food, nuts, popcorn and cotton candy. There will also be homemade ice cream, made on site. Additionally, a wine and beer garden at the park will serve beverages from a local brewery and winery.
In light of its shared anniversary with the arts festival, the music festival – with the help of funding from Zions Bank – decided to host a special May concert. Its festival takes place in September.
Time for Three was well received at a 2015 Moab performance, where many patrons said it was their favorite act, and since that performance, the trio has added violinist Charles Yang – a festival favorite known by many Moab residents, Moab Music Festival Coordinator Erin Groves said.
The trio’s music has elements of western, gypsy, bluegrass and folk, with “classical being at the heart of all their music,” Groves said.
Come for the art, music, theatre, magic and more
“It’s gone far beyond your local neighborhood craft show … It brings people looking for nice, unique items for their homes. It’s a well-balanced show with good variety.”
When: Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Swanny City Park, 400 N. 100 West
Information: www.moabartsfestival.org; 435- 259-2742
For more information about the Star Hall concert, visit www.moabmusicfest.org. Tickets for the “Time for Three” performance are $25 and are available at the music festival office, 58 E. 300 South, or at Star Hall the evening of the performance.
