Visual and performing arts will adorn McLeod Creek Trail during the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County’s Art on the Trails day.

The event, made possible by the arts council’s partnership with Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District and Copper Moose Farm, will run from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, and will feature live performances by the Aerobatics Circus Center, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, River Wood Speaks poetry, Figure Skating Club of Park City, Lisa Needham & Rich Wyman, and Salt City Circus, according to Arts Council Executive Director Jocelyn Scudder.

“The day will feature seven tours that will leave the Copper Moose Farm stand at the trailhead every 20 minutes from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” she said. “Tour guides will lead these excursions, and they will talk about the Arts Council and introduce the acts that will be set up throughout the trail.”

Tours will take about an hour and a half to complete, Scudder said.

“We walk at a very leisurely pace, and we stop at each artist for five to 10 minutes,” she said. “The trail is a mile and a half round trip, and people can walk back to the trailhead at their own pace once they reach the last performance that will be near Temple Har Shalom.”

The idea and goal of Art on the Trails is to give groups a chance to see and experience organic and unexpected performances and exhibits in nature, according to Scudder.

“We curate different experiences every year, and we want to offer a variety of performing arts,” she said. “When many people think of performing arts, they think of dance and music, but we are also bringing in acrobatics, as well as spoken-word and a visual art display.”

One of the new performances this year is the Figure Skating Club of Park City, Scudder said.

“People may not expect to see figure skaters in the middle of summer,” she said with a laugh. “But they have an innovative new surface called Glice that allows them to practice without ice. So, I think it’s going to be fantastic to see these youth skaters performing outdoors in the middle of summer.”

In addition to the performing arts, the event will feature a string of handmade birdhouses by M&J Birdhouses set up along the trail.

“We’ve been working with Jim Sheeran who creates these whimsical birdhouses that we like to display,” Scudder said.

Another exhibit scheduled to show during Art on the Trails comes from the University of Wyoming.

“We’re going to do a pop-up photography exhibit that features Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshone people, who lived in the North Summit corridor,” Scudder said. “We’re going to bring in the exhibit so people can see it, and we’re also working with one of his ancestors, Lucie Washakie, whom we have built a relationship with throughout the years.”

Lucie Washakie will introduce the photographs and talk about the Washakie’s family history, culture and experiences it had in Summit County, according to Scudder.

“We always tell people that this event is connecting people with art and nature, and the reason this event is so successful is because of the beauty of the land and sense of place,” she said. “We also understand that we cannot do this event without acknowledging the Indigenous peoples who live on this land before us. So, we’re excited for Lucie, who we’ve worked with for years, to return and talk about this exhibit.”

Art on the Trails attendees kick back to some live music during last year’s Art on the Trails event at the Copper Moose Farm Stand lounge, located at the McLeod Creek Trailhead. Credit: Photo by Claire Wiley

Speaking of land, there are many reasons why the Arts Council selected McLeod Creek Trail for this event.

“Factor one is that Basin Recreation has come on as a partner and they manage this trail,” Scudder said. “It’s very wide, which allows for our tours to go out and back and still allow recreationists to pass by. So, there will probably be bikers, walkers and runners still going on the trail when these tours and performances are going on.”

Secondly, the trail is accessible.

“The Arts Council also prioritizes accessibility because we want everyone to be able to participate in our events,” Scudder said. 

The third reason for selecting McLeod Creek Trail is its shade.

“There are not a lot of trails in Park City that have shade like this one,” Scudder said. “And we plan to set up tents in places where performances will take place that don’t have shade.”

The shade makes the event more pleasant for tour groups as well as the artists, according to Scudder.

“They are performing a string of mini concerts or dance performances seven times in four hours, so in between those performances, we want them to be able to relax,” she said.

While the tours themselves require tickets, people can also just come to the Copper Moose Farm Stand to hang out for free, Scudder said.

“Copper Moose Farm Stand has been a partner since its inception, and we host a lounge area there,” she said. “We’ll have some live music, and we’ll also have a cash bar there, thanks to Ketel One Botanicals.”
The stand will also sell produce, Auntie Em’s pastries and assortment of cheeses, Scudder said.

Later in the day, the Arts Council will also hold an opportunity drawing at the lounge area.

“Art on the Trails is a fundraiser for the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County, who provides high-caliber and exciting arts experience for the community, and the opportunity will help us raise money for our programming that include CREATE PC, a local artist collective, Monster Drawing Rally and Art & Music Gallery Strolls, the Latino Arts Festival and Summer Arts Market.”

Opportunity drawing tickets can be purchased in addition to tour tickets for $25 each or $80 for four, Scudder said.

“The opportunity drawing is a great way for local businesses to come in and provide items in-kind to support our organizations,” she said. “Deer Valley has donated day tickets and day passes, and we have a $200 gift card from Yuki Yama Sushi. We also have a cool road bike outfit kit from Mountain Trails Foundation that features designs from Anna Leigh Moore, one of our local artists.”

Art on the Trails is one of Scudder’s favorite events.

“There is something special being among those natural surroundings where you can be among the trees and a river to experience art,” she said. “Those elements combined create a beautiful experience when you can immerse yourself in nature and be inspired by art in unexpected ways.” 

Art on the Trails