The 3rd annual Wasatch Back Art Festival concluded in Heber City after a three-day weekend of showcasing original artwork at Heber Main Street Park. Held from July 24 through July 26, 2026, the event brought together a diverse group of artists to display and sell their original creations to the public.
Commitment to Original Art
The festival, hosted in the Heber Valley, utilized the space in Heber Main Street Park located between 200 and 300 South and Main Street and 100 West. According to the Wasatch Back Art Festival, the event is designed to support artists in selling their original, diverse artworks.
Organizers maintained a strict policy regarding the nature of the art displayed, stating that all work must be the original creation of the artist. The festival explicitly prohibited any 'buy and sell' items to maintain the integrity of the fine art event.
Exhibitor Logistics and Fees
The 2026 event featured a range of booth options for participating artists. Individual artists or groups of up to two artists could secure a 10x10 foot booth for a fee of $250. Larger 10x20 foot booths were available for $500 per event.
To manage logistics, the festival organizers assigned booth locations based on the order in which booth payments were received. While the organization made every attempt to honor specific artist requests, they reserved the right to make adjustments as necessary. To facilitate viewing and ease of movement, booths were spaced between 5 and 10 feet apart.
Festival Schedule and Operations
The festival schedule required significant coordination for setup and teardown. On Friday, July 24, check-in began at 8 a.m., with the goal of having all artists fully set up by noon. The show ran until 6 p.m. that evening.
Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, saw standard show hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival concluded on Sunday evening, with teardown operations scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Safety and Equipment Requirements
Strict safety and equipment regulations were enforced to ensure the security of the event and its participants. All artists were required to provide their own tents and display equipment. Due to local regulations, the use of stakes was prohibited; instead, all canopies were required to have adequate weights, with a minimum of 50 pounds on each corner to prepare for various weather conditions.
Because the festival did not provide Wi-Fi, artists were instructed to use their own cellular networks to process electronic payments. Artists were also responsible for their own insurance and for collecting and reporting their own sales tax, which for Heber City is 8.35%.
Security and Support Services
To assist with event management, the festival provided booth sitters to allow artists to take short breaks. However, these sitters were strictly prohibited from selling art or managing sales transactions and were not liable for any loss or claims.
Security was provided during nighttime hours for both days of the event to protect the exhibits. Artists were advised to secure their booths on all sides to deter theft or vandalism.
Future Participation
As of July 29, 2026, applications for the current year's festival have closed. The Wasatch Back Art Festival has moved to a waitlist status, and interested artists are encouraged to contact the organization via email to inquire about participation in the 2027 event.
