Cedar City's Flourishing Arts Scene

Cedar City takes the idea of scenery seriously, with theater and art venues that provide another kind of backdrop for landscape-loving visitors.

Written By Alyson King

Utah Shakespeare Festival | 2025 production of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Photo by Karl Hugh.

Art, theater, and Shakespeare references are as prolific in Cedar City as the sheep that parade down Main Street annually in late October. The Utah Shakespeare Festival has been a destination for arts lovers since the 1960s, and its international reputation has paved the way for a variety of cultural attractions. There’s much going on to satisfy visitors’ artistic sensibilities — you just have to know where to look. (Read: Exploring the Cultural Vistas of Cedar City)

Utah Shakespeare Festival

195 W. Center St., Cedar City

Talk of theater in Cedar City begins with the Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF), which launched its first shows on a wooden platform in this rural town in 1962. Now the company presents performances in three state-of-the-art venues at Southern Utah University’s Beverly Center for the Arts.

Locals and visitors meet up on the lawn at the Ashton Family Commons outdoor stage at the free nightly Greenshow. Along with the dynamic lineup of Shakespeare shows and contemporary plays, the USF festival experience includes free play and production seminars daily, as well as paid backstage tours, Repertory Magic, and the “Words Cubed” play development program.

Before curtain, visitors can enjoy a walk through the Catherine and Robert Pedersen Shakespeare Character Garden, located west of the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. The garden features sculptures of some of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, including the Bard himself, who is always posed for a selfie. Regular theatergoers recommend nibbling on a sturdy Elizabethan fruit tart, available at the concession stands.

When you go: The company’s three adjacent theaters are located on the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, Southern Utah University campus, 195 W. Center St., Cedar City. From June through October, matinees at 2 p.m., evening shows at 8 p.m. Free Greenshow at 7:10 p.m. nightly.

Tickets: bard.org/tickets or at the Ticket Office onsite. Discounts for Iron County residents.

The museum’s captivating architectural design by Brooks + Scarp features flowing lines inspired by Southern Utah’s slot canyons.

Photo: Visit Cedar City/Brian Head

Southern Utah Museum of Art

13 S. 300 West, Cedar City

Another anchor of the Beverly Center for the Arts is the Southern Utah Museum of Art, which features the work of local artists, SUU faculty, and students, as well as renowned artists from around the world. The museum houses five galleries with moveable walls to accommodate different exhibitions. They also have several permanent collections, most notably the Southern Utah landscapes by Utah artist Jimmie Jones, whose donations launched the museum.

SUMA is a place to see beautiful art, and also serves as a great resource for teachers, students, and aspiring artists, offering educational classroom tools, school tours, teen events, and lectures. The museum’s captivating architectural design by Brooks + Scarp features flowing lines inspired by Southern Utah’s slot canyons. Around the west side of the building, you can experience more beauty at the Stillman Sculpture Court, with sculptures chosen to spark the imagination.

When you go: Free admission. Open June to September, Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; and October to May, Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Visit the museum website for updated exhibition information.

Talk of theater in Cedar City begins with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, which launched its first shows on a wooden platform in this rural town in 1962.

Photo: Visit Cedar City/Brian Head

American Crossroads Theatre

Heritage Center Theatre, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City

Theatergoers might know the American Crossroads Theatre by its former name, the SimonFest Theatre Company, which was founded in 2003 by Richard Bugg, an SUU theater professor. The company’s mission invites visitors to experience the hero’s journey through its musicals, comedies, and dramas.

The company employs local talent as actors, scenic designers, lighting designers, costumers, and directors, producing shows at the city’s Heritage Center Theatre. A pre-show discussion is presented in the grand lobby 30 minutes before curtain. The schedule offers the chance to see all three shows in two days.

When you go: Heritage Center Theatre, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City. The season runs for a month in July to August; check the schedule for half-price shows. Ticket discounts for veterans, students, and children.

Cedar City is often recognized as a gateway to Utah's national parks, but it's an arts and recreation destination in its own right.

Photo: Visit Cedar City/Brian Head

Heritage Center Theatre

105 N. 100 East, Cedar City

This popular performing arts venue is tucked away in the city’s Festival Hall and Heritage Theatre. Almost every local performance group shares the space as their home base, and so the venue is consistently booked by theaters, orchestras, charity groups, dance teams, and craft shows. The majestic lobby features a grand staircase, while the 1,000-seat auditorium features raked seating and an overhanging balcony with excellent stage views. The Heritage is home to the Master Singers of Cedar City, the Orchestra of Southern Utah, the Cedar City Children’s Musical Theatre, Cedar Valley Community Theatre, American Crossroads Theatre, the Cedar Chest Quilters Guild, and Cedar City Music Arts. The theater also hosts tribute bands, SUU performers, stand-up comedians, the Cedar City Junior Ballet, and holiday events.

When you go: The theater is located just off Main Street at 105 N. 100 East, in downtown Cedar City. Visit the website for the schedule.

The Final Friday Art Walk spotlights musicians and artists at various locations along the sidewalk on Cedar City's Center Street.

Photo: Final Friday Art Walk

Cedar City Final Friday Art Walk

Center Street, Cedar City

What do you do on a Friday afternoon after hiking at Brian Head when it’s still a little too early for dinner? If it’s summer in Cedar City, come downtown and hang out on the streets with your favorite local artists.

Artists showcase their work from June through September at the monthly Final Friday Art Walk, with stops at local art establishments such as Gold River Gallery, Kolob Gallery, Shape Theory Ceramics and more. This free event spotlights musicians and artists at various locations along the sidewalk on Center Street. Locals suggest exploring the exhibits on the patio at SUMA and walking northeast towards the Johnson Center for Community Arts and Education, where you can enjoy local bands on the outside stage. Discover local paintings, sculptures, homemade crafts, and photography, while a sidewalk chalk artist might be adding a splash of color.

When you go: Center St./University Blvd. and 100 W (From about Main St. to 300 W along University Blvd.) Final Fridays of the month, June to September, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free.

Brian Head Art Fair

259 Village Way, Brian Head

Summers at Brian Head find visitors careening downhill on mountain bikes, enjoying the scenic lift rides, adventure hiking, zip lining, rock climbing, and avalanche tubing. Yet the free, one-weekend-only Brian Head Art Fair is a draw of its own, featuring sunshine, mountain breezes and interactive experiences.

This 4th of July celebration starts on July 3 and continues through July 5 with live music, bungee trampolines, a pie-eating contest, a pancake breakfast hosted by the fire department and a fireworks display.

The fair was established in 1992 as an event to help support local artists, and over the decades it has become an annual draw for locals and visitors. You can purchase local art while enjoying acoustic music, punctuated with local beer and wine offerings.

When you go: 259 Village Way, Brian Head

Cedar City's Art Scene

About the Author – Alyson King

Alyson King moved to Cedar City in 2010, and immediately immersed herself in the local arts scene. As a performing and visual artist, she has directed and acted in countless shows in the area, taught cultural dance classes to SUU students, and displayed her artwork at various exhibits. In addition to her love of all things artistic, Alyson is also enamored of the Southern Utah landscape and the creativity it inspires.