Your Guide to Salt Lake in May 2025

May is pitch perfect in my book: The days are mostly sunny but not too hot, events around town are more frequent but not overwhelming, and there’s even a bank holiday. Here are a few things to add to your calendar this month.

Start of Festival Season

This month feels like a kickoff to festival season:

• Utah Food Festival. Find me at the jam workshop. They had me at “learn all about curds.”
• Kilby Block Party. As a classic millennial, I’m excited to see Rilo Kiley, Weezer, and Toro y Moi.
• Living Traditions Festival. One of my favorite festivals of the year! A beautiful celebration of the diverse cultures that make up Salt Lake.

Soldier Hollow Classic

See dogs run at the Soldier Hollow Classic over Memorial Day weekend in Heber. This annual sheep dog competition brings in competitors from around the world. Purchase tickets online; it’s a little cheaper than at the gate.

Plant Sales

I have patio space to fill, and so many plant sales are happening this month — my partner’s about to be sick of me!

• May 3: Frog Bench Farms. Preorders are open now for pickup at Liberty Heights Fresh.
• May 10: Wasatch Community Gardens. Back and bigger than ever at the Utah State Fairpark.
• May 9 and 10: Red Butte Garden. Members get in a day early before the public sale.
• May 17: Urban Farmer Plant Sale. Pick your peppers here!
• May 17: Little Gay Plant Sale. Workshops, live music, snacks — can’t wait!

Silent Movies

Edison Street Events (formerly known as the Organ Loft) is keeping silent movies alive May 8-9 and May 22-23. Housed in a historic building, the screenings are accompanied by a live Wurlitzer Theatre organ, which feels very “Phantom of the Opera.” Go and support! It’s events like these that make Salt Lake City interesting.

1974 Bookstore

What’s better than an indie bookstore? An indie book bike toting curated selections around Salt Lake. Here’s where you’ll find them this month:

• May 24 at Holy Water Coffee.
• May 25 at The Neighborhood Hive.
• May 31 at Sum Ol’ Market inside Publik.