Why This Utah Town Deserves More Attention
Situated along Utah’s famous Heritage Highway 89, Spring City, home to about 1,000 residents, deserves more attention. It has worked effortlessly to preserve the town’s pioneer heritage and art community, and the results speak for themselves. Organizations like Spring City Arts have contributed to the town having a surprisingly dynamic art scene, while annual festivals like Heritage Day and Pioneer Day continue to serve as important tactics in historical preservation. The town is also near Palisade State Park, which features one of the region’s most beautiful reservoirs, making it a great place for an escape in nature as well. If you are looking to experience some of the state’s most authentic cultural festivals and natural landmarks, you will fall in love with the small community of Spring City.
Spring City Arts
Spring City’s pioneer architecture and scenic, hilly landscape began attracting artists to town as far back as the 1970s. Since then, the artist community has grown tremendously. In the mid-2000s, a group of local artists came together to create Spring City Arts, a non-profit organization and gallery that promoted their work. Today, this arts organization holds a significant presence in the Central Utah region, holding a variety of important events, workshops, and concerts.
The Plein Air Competition is one of the organization’s most iconic annual events, taking place each August. This event has occurred for over 18 years and is one of the state’s oldest plein air painting traditions. Artists paint throughout the week, stamping their canvas at the beginning to confirm that the art was created solely during the event. By the end of the week, the finished artwork goes on display at an exhibition that is open to the public. Other past events that Spring City Arts has hosted include Irish music performances, Vivaldi Chamber Orchestra concerts, and jazz and blues bands, so make sure to keep your eye out for future events!
Annual Events and Festivals
In addition to the famed Plein Air Competition, Spring City hosts several other popular cultural events. On May 24th, 2025, the town will host its annual Heritage Day event. To celebrate its history and heritage, activities during this festival will include a home tour, an art auction, a craft market, live music, and food trucks. Pioneer Day follows two months later in July, featuring an iconic Pioneer Parade down Main Street, a “Fireman’s Breakfast”, music, games, and plenty of activities for children.
Travelers who enjoy folk music should also add the annual Spring City Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival to their calendars. In 2025, the event will take place on August 1st and 2nd and feature a two-day music lineup. Other activities during the festival include a quilt show and food trucks.
Palisade State Park
Just a half-hour drive southwest of Spring City, travelers will reach the gorgeous Palisade State Park. This state park, set on the Palisade Reservoir, is a great place to enjoy a variety of water recreational activities. Travelers can arrange a rental with the park’s rental service, which offers kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and paddleboats at an affordable rate. The reservoir is also an excellent fishing spot, with fish species including black crappie, bluegill, goldfish, rainbow trout, and tiger trout.
If you prefer to stay on land, a mile-and-a-half hiking trail encircles the reservoir, offering beautiful views of the water. Golfers, meanwhile, will appreciate the park’s 18-hole course, which is friendly to golfers of all skill levels. If you want to spend the night at the park, consider reserving one of its campsites, which come with picnic tables, a grill, and a fire ring.
Cafes and Restaurants
Spring City may have just a couple of dining options, but the restaurants consistently impress. International cuisine might seem unlikely in this tiny Utah town, but Das Cafe will surprise you with its authentic German-style dishes. Founded in 2011 by the daughters of German immigrants, a few of the dishes visitors can try include German sausage with eggs and potatoes, kraut burgers, bratwurst and sauerkraut, reuben sandwiches, traditional potato salad, and carrot cake.
If you are craving classic American grub, on the other hand, make sure to stop by Roots 89 Grill. Voted as the best burger and fries in the county in 2023, travelers can choose from a variety of specialty burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, ice cream and shakes, chili cheese fries, and garlic cheese curds. As an added bonus, the restaurant sits in a century-old soda fountain and mercantile, contributing to the nostalgic ambiance!
Due to its small population, Spring City often goes unnoticed by travelers. However, its unique annual festivals, involved art community, nearby state park, and highly rated restaurants are slowly earning it a greater name. Just a two-hour drive from Salt Lake City, it makes a good weekend trip for those wanting to slow things down a bit. So pack your weekend bag and get ready to see what Spring City has to offer!
