The calendar just stacked up in the best possible way. Opening weekend of the Washington County Fair headlines a week that also includes back-to-back Tuacahn concerts, D-Week at Utah Tech, the Plein Air Festival wrapping up downtown, and enough Saturday market options to fill your morning twice over. Spring in southern Utah is doing its thing.
Let's get into it.
Washington County Fair - Opening Weekend
Fri, Apr 10, 4-10 PM | Sat, Apr 11, 10 AM-10 PM Washington County Legacy Park, 5500 W 700 S, Hurricane Free admission | Free parking
The Washington County Fair opens Friday for a nine-day run through April 18, and if you've never been, this is one of those events that punches well above its weight. The fair was recently named one of the top 10 county fairs in the country, and it's now celebrating 165 years of community tradition in Hurricane.
This year's theme ties into the nationwide America 250 celebration, so expect additional programming highlighting the nation's history alongside the usual lineup of carnival rides, livestock shows, food vendors, live music across multiple stages, and exhibits. The demolition derby, two-night rodeo, and the boxing event (now in its 102nd year) are all still on the schedule.
Free admission and free parking make this the best-value family outing of the month, hands down.
Fair Parade - Saturday Morning Downtown
Sat, Apr 11, 9 AM Downtown St. George (Tabernacle St to 200 E)
Free
Before you head to the fair itself, the Washington County Fair Parade kicks off Saturday at 9 AM in downtown St. George. Lineup starts at 7:30 AM on Tabernacle Street west of 200 West. This year's parade theme is "America: Past, Present and Future," and it features local businesses, schools, and community groups.
Worth noting for your Saturday plans: if you're headed downtown for the parade, the farmers market, or the MOD market (more on those below), give yourself extra time for traffic and parking near Main Street.
Tuacahn: Two Nights, Two Very Different Shows
Scotty McCreery Thu, Apr 9, 8 PM | Tuacahn Amphitheater, 1100 Tuacahn Dr, Ivins Tickets from ~$57
Scotty McCreery brings his country hits to Tuacahn on Thursday night. He's charted six No. 1 singles and has been a fixture in country music since winning American Idol at 17. Under the red rock cliffs on an April evening with highs in the low 80s that day, this one is going to feel right. A strong date-night or parents' night-out pick.
Jenny Oaks Baker - American Mosaic Fri, Apr 10, 8 PM | Tuacahn Amphitheater, 1100 Tuacahn Dr, Ivins Ticketed
Friday night shifts gears with Grammy-nominated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her family performing American Mosaic. The show tells the story of America through music, dance, and narration, with a score by Emmy-winning composer Kurt Bestor, and features the St. George Children's Choir. It's a polished, uplifting evening that works for couples, families with older kids, or visitors in town.
Utah Tech D-Week
Mon, Apr 6 - Sat, Apr 11 Utah Tech campus and around St. George Most events free
D-Week is back at Utah Tech, and even if you're not a student, a couple of these events are worth knowing about. Monday kicks off with Brooks' City Tour, featuring pop-up deals and giveaways at local businesses around town. Tuesday night, Trailblazer baseball hosts the University of Utah at Bruce Hurst Field (game time around 4-5 PM).
The Great Race happens Friday at 5 PM at Greater Zion Stadium, a 10-person relay that dates back to a 1960s bike race and now includes running, swimming, and a mud pit. Friday evening also features Brooks the Bison's 10th Birthday Carnival on Encampment Mall from 6-8 PM, which is genuinely family-friendly. And Saturday morning, students and community members hike Black Ridge to repaint the iconic D, starting at 8 AM with breakfast provided.
Saturday Markets
Saturday, April 11, is stacked for market lovers. Here are your options:
Downtown Farmers Market Sat, Apr 11, 10 AM-2 PM | Vernon Worthen Park, 300 S 400 E, St. George | Free
The weekly staple. 50+ vendors with local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and handmade items, plus live music starting around 10:30 AM. Stroller-friendly, dog-friendly, and easy to pair with lunch or the fair parade earlier that morning.
MOD | The Modern Market Sat, Apr 11, 10 AM-4 PM | Vernon Worthen Park, St. George | Free
MOD is also set up at Vernon Worthen Park this Saturday with 100+ vendors offering curated local goods, crafts, and artisan products. This runs later than the farmers’ market (until 4 PM), so you can make a longer morning of it.
Tuacahn Saturday Market Sat, Apr 11, 10 AM-2 PM | 1100 Tuacahn Dr, Ivins | Free
If you'd rather head toward the canyon, the Tuacahn Saturday Market is open year-round and runs along a tree-lined walkway near the amphitheater. Local artists, crafts, food, and free live entertainment. The Tuacahn Cafe serves a pancake breakfast until noon.
On Stage This Week
Jane Austen's Emma The Musical Now through Apr 18 | Historic Opera House, 212 N Main St, St. George Tickets: $32
St. George Musical Theater's current production wraps up on April 18. If you haven't seen it yet, this is your last full week. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (7:30 PM) with a Saturday matinee (2 PM). The Historic Opera House is a great, intimate venue, and Emma is a charming pick for a date night or an evening out with friends.
MAMMA MIA! Now through May 9 | Hurricane City Fine Arts Center, 92 S 100 W, Hurricane Ticketed | Evening shows Mon, Fri, Sat at 7 PM | Sat matinee at 2 PM
Hurricane Theatrical's production of MAMMA MIA! continues through May 9. The Fine Arts Center is a comfortable venue, the music is impossible not to enjoy, and there's a meet-and-greet with the cast after every show. If you're already heading to Hurricane for the fair, this makes for a fun double feature.
Arts & Culture
Unbound: Art of the West On view through May 30 | St. George Museum of Art, 47 E 200 North, St. George Free admission
This is the most significant exhibition the St. George Museum of Art has hosted in a while. A collaboration with Salt Lake City's Modern West Fine Art, Unbound features 21 artists who reframe what Western art looks like, from modernists like Louis Ribak and Beatrice Mandelman to contemporary painters like Billy Schenck and Ed Mell. It opened on March 28 and runs through May 30. Easy to pair with a downtown walk, lunch, or the farmers market.
5th Annual St. George Plein Air Festival Mon, Apr 6 - Sat, Apr 11 Various locations around St. George
The Plein Air Festival wraps up this week with artists from 15+ states painting Southern Utah landscapes outdoors. You might spot painters set up at parks, along Main Street, or overlooking red rock vistas throughout the week. The big public event is the Art Show and Awards Reception on Saturday, April 11 from 3-6 PM at STG Social Hall (212 N Main St). It's free, open to the public, and all artwork is available for purchase.
Weather Watch
Spring warmth is in full effect this week. Expect highs in the upper 70s to upper 80s, with the warmest days landing mid-week.
Mon, Apr 6: Partly sunny, high near 79°F
Tue, Apr 7: Mostly sunny, high near 81°F
Wed, Apr 8: Partly sunny and warm, high near 83°F
Thu, Apr 9: Sun and clouds, high near 81°F
Fri, Apr 10: Sunshine, high near 82°F
Sat, Apr 11: Variable clouds, cooler, high near 72°F
Sun, Apr 12: Clouds with a chance of an afternoon shower, high near 74°F
Thursday and Friday look ideal for the Tuacahn concerts (plan for cooler canyon evenings, bring a layer). Saturday cools down, which is actually nice for the fair parade, markets, and outdoor browsing. The afternoon shower chance on Sunday is worth watching if you have outdoor plans.
If you can only add one thing to your Saturday, consider the Plein Air Festival Art Show at Social Hall (212 N Main St, 3-6 PM). It's free, it's walking distance from the farmers market, and you'll see hundreds of original paintings of Southern Utah landscapes created that same week by artists who traveled here from across the country. It's one of those events that makes you appreciate where we live in a way that hits differently when you see someone else try to capture it on canvas. The awards ceremony starts at 4 PM, and there's live music from 4:30 to 6 PM.
Before You Go
This is one of those weeks where you genuinely can't go wrong. The Washington County Fair is the big-ticket family pick. Tuacahn has two strong concert nights. The Saturday market scene is packed. And if you want something quieter, Emma at the Opera House or the Unbound exhibit at the Museum of Art are both solid choices that don't depend on the weather.
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See you out there, St. George.