The Bountiful Davis Art Center hosted its Summerfest Folk and Heritage Arts festival at Bountiful City Park on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8, 2026, featuring a wide array of international music, dance, and visual arts. The free two-day event, which followed a community gathering at Bountiful Town Square on Aug. 6, showcased diverse cultural traditions through live performances and hands-on art workshops.
Artistic and Culinary Attractions
The 2026 festival was designed to highlight the connections created through various artistic expressions. According to the Bountiful Davis Art Center, the event featured a marketplace of artist vendors showcasing handmade work alongside live demonstrations. Visitors also had access to local food trucks throughout the weekend of celebrations.
In addition to the marketplace, the festival provided interactive experiences in the Art Yard. This area allowed attendees to participate in hands-on projects, such as a collaborative acrylic painting activity to create a giant paper-mâché axolotl. This specific project, led by artist Clara Amezcua, was intended to celebrate the cultural heritage of Mexican papier-mâché and piñata-making.
Hands-On Workshops
The festival's programming included a variety of workshops for different skill levels and ages. On Friday, artist and educator Sara Serratos led an all-day linocut printmaking activity, allowing both youth and adults to carve linoleum blocks or use pre-carved stamps to experiment with pattern and texture. On Saturday, the Art Yard hosted an all-day cyanotype workshop to offer further opportunities for artistic exploration.
The Bountiful Davis Art Center noted that Summerfest is an annual event that serves as a cornerstone for the community, highlighting the universal language of art. The festival's goal is to bring together artisans, performers, and audiences in a celebration of global traditions.
Diverse Musical Performances
The musical lineup for the weekend spanned multiple genres and cultures. Friday's performances began with Indigenous music and storytelling, featuring Honey Duval and Native Youth, followed by N8tive Hoop, a family of world-champion hoop dancers. The afternoon included the Utah Alp Horns, an ensemble performing traditional Swiss alpine horn repertoire alongside contemporary arrangements.
Saturday's musical schedule opened with Mariachi Fuego and continued with Japanese taiko drumming and music. The festival concluded on Saturday evening with a two-hour closing performance by Callanish, a Utah-based Celtic ensemble that has performed together for more than 25 years. The group performed a range of Irish and Scottish music, including songs, jigs, and reels, featuring instruments such as the fiddle, flutes, whistles, guitar, vocals, and bodhrán.
Commemorating America's 250th Anniversary
The 2026 Summerfest was held under the theme E Pluribus Unum—'Out of Many, One,' in commemoration of America's 250th anniversary. The Bountiful Davis Art Center used the theme to explore how the arts create connections across different communities.
Sarina Villareal Ehrgott, the Executive Director of the Bountiful Davis Art Center, stated that the festival reflects the organization's belief that the arts can honor distinct histories and traditions while creating a shared sense of belonging. Ehrgott noted that the event invites the community to experience the music, dance, and visual arts that make the region vibrant and reveal the richness of the community through shared experiences.
Summerfest Eve Traditions
The festivities began with a preparatory event known as Summerfest Eve on Thursday, Aug. 6. Held at Bountiful Town Square in partnership with the City of Bountiful, the evening gathering featured a Navajo Drum Circle and Dance. This event was designed to welcome neighbors and visitors to the community before the main festival opened the following day.
