It's Easter weekend in St. George, and the calendar is as full as a kid's basket on Sunday morning. The Art Festival takes over downtown. Tuacahn has shows every night. The Eggstravaganza returns to Thunder Junction, and there are egg hunts spread across three cities. Whether you're spending the week winding down or filling every hour, here's your guide.
The Big One: St. George Art Festival
Friday, April 3 (10 AM - 7 PM) and Saturday, April 4 (10 AM - 6 PM) Historic Town Square, 50 S Main St, St. George | Free
The Art Festival is back for its 46th year, and it's still the best free weekend event in southern Utah. Nearly 200 artists from across the country set up along Main Street with paintings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, photography, and more. Three stages of live music run all day on both days, and more than 30 food trucks are parked between the stages.
Friday's headliner is The Aquabats at 7 PM on the Greater Zion Main Stage, a high-energy, family-friendly way to close out the night. Saturday wraps up with James Hardy & The Fire (roots rock with reggae and funk edges) at 6 PM. In between, you'll hear everything from jazz to indie country to one-man-band sets starting at 10:15 AM each morning.
For families, the Creation Station kids' area has 15 hands-on craft activities. For runners, the Art Attack 1 Mile and 5K kicks off on Tabernacle Street at 9 AM Saturday. And if you want to watch some fun chaos, there's a Freestyle Dance Battle at 3 PM Saturday.
A few practical notes: downtown parking fills up fast, so arrive early or carpool. Bring cash for the artists who prefer it. And wear comfortable shoes because you'll be walking more than you think.
Easter Events for Families
It's a big weekend for egg hunts and Easter activities. Here's a quick rundown by area:
Thunder Junction Eggstravaganza Thursday, April 2 through Saturday, April 4 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM Thunder Junction All-Abilities Park, 1851 S. Dixie Dr., St. George | $8 per person (12 months and under free)
This is the biggest family Easter event in town and it sells out, so grab tickets now if you haven't already. It's not a traditional egg hunt. Instead, kids search for hidden egg stations throughout the park and rotate through activities like the Eggsploration Craft Corner, a Bunny Hop Dance Zone, Guess the Eggs contest, photos with the Easter Bunny, and rides on the Bunny Express train. Advance ticket purchase is required.
Ivins Easter Egg Scramble Saturday, April 4 | 9:00 AM | Unity Park, 200 W 400 S, Ivins | Free Quick, classic, community-run. A good pick if you're on the west side and want something short and sweet before the rest of Saturday fills up.
Hurricane City Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 4 | 9:00 AM | Three Falls Park, 889 S 700 W, Hurricane | Free Egg hunt fun with prizes and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Great option if you're closer to Hurricane.
Teen Blacklight Easter Egg Hunt Friday, April 3 | 7:00 PM | Heritage Park, 100 N 100 W, Ivins | Free A cool twist for older kids and teens. After-dark egg hunt with blacklight effects.
Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza at The Farm Friday and Saturday | The Farm, 1162 W 3000 S, Hurricane | $1-$16 A ticketed event with egg hunts and other activities. Check their page for time slots.
Tuacahn Is Stacked This Week
The canyon in Ivins is busy every night this week. Here's the full lineup:
Siva Pasefika - Wednesday, April 1 | 7:30 PM A celebration of 20 years of Polynesian culture through song, dance, and fire knife performance. Siva Pasefika was founded right here in St. George in 2006, and this hometown show always delivers. This is one of the more unique events on the spring calendar.
Floyd Nation - Thursday, April 2 | 8:00 PM Pink Floyd tribute act. If "Comfortably Numb" echoing off red rock canyon walls sounds like your kind of evening, this is it.
The Beach Boys - Friday, April 3 | 8:00 PM "Good Vibrations," "Surfin' USA," "California Girls." The Beach Boys bring decades of iconic surf rock to Tuacahn on Art Festival Friday. This is the marquee concert of the week. Tickets start around $46 on resale sites, but check tuacahn.org for official pricing.
Gentri: King of Kings - Saturday, April 4 | 8:00 PM The Utah-based vocal trio returns with their inspirational Easter concert, backed by a full orchestra and choir. If you want something uplifting on Easter weekend that still feels like a real event, this is a strong pick. Tickets from around $80.
All shows at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins. Tuacahn concerts and tickets
On Stage: Emma the Musical at SGMT
Through Saturday, April 18 | Historic Opera House, 212 N Main St, St. George | $32
Jane Austen's "Emma" is now running at St. George Musical Theater, and it's the kind of show that works perfectly in SGMT's intimate, in-the-round setting. Clever, charming, and full of matchmaking gone wrong. If you want a polished night out that stays local and doesn't require a drive to Ivins, this is your best indoor option this week. Friday and Saturday performances include matinee (2-4:30 PM) and evening (7:30-10 PM) options.
Saturday Markets + Art
Downtown Farmers Market - Saturday, April 4 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Vernon Worthen Park, 300 S 400 E, St. George | Free With the Art Festival happening just blocks away, this is a natural combo. Hit the market for produce and baked goods in the morning, grab lunch from a food truck, then loop over to Town Square for the art and music. The market is dog-friendly and there's live music.
Tuacahn Saturday Market - Saturday, April 4 | 9 AM - 1 PM | 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins | Free Spring hours are now in effect. Local art, crafts, food vendors, and free entertainment along the tree-lined walkway. Pancake breakfast at the Tuacahn Cafe.
"Herstory" at Kayenta - Friday through Sunday | 9 AM - 6 PM (Sun to 4 PM) | Center for the Arts at Kayenta, 881 Coyote Gulch Court, Ivins | Free
Coming Up: Plein Air Festival Starts Monday
The 5th Annual St. George Plein Air Festival kicks off Monday, April 6 and runs through Saturday, April 11. Sixty to seventy artists from more than 15 states will set up easels around Washington County, painting the landscapes in real time. You'll spot them at Pioneer Park, Red Hills Desert Garden, Snow Canyon, and along downtown streets.
The public exhibition and reception is Saturday, April 11 from 3-6 PM at Social Hall (212 N Main St). Free admission, and all artwork created during the week is available for purchase. It's a cool experience to see paintings finished just days earlier that capture the exact light you've been walking through all week.
Weather + Trail Notes
We're coming off a warm start to the week (mid-80s through Monday), but temperatures settle into the low-to-mid 70s by Thursday and Friday, which is about perfect for outdoor festivals and trail time. Expect sunshine with minimal rain risk through the weekend. Saturday should be especially comfortable for spending a full day outside between the Art Festival, egg hunts, and markets.
If you're looking to hike, the cooler mornings this week are ideal for Snow Canyon or the Red Hills before things warm up. By mid-April, those early-morning starts become more important, so take advantage now.
A Quick Heads-Up
Thunder Junction Eggstravaganza is ticketed and limited-capacity, so that's the one to lock down first if you haven't already. The Art Festival and community egg hunts are free and open, but downtown parking for the festival goes fast. For Tuacahn shows, The Beach Boys and Gentri will both draw big crowds, so plan to arrive early for parking in the canyon.
Happy Easter, St. George. Whether you're hunting eggs, browsing art, watching fire dancers, or just enjoying a quiet Sunday morning, we hope it's a good one.
-- St. George Scoop