Best of Zion
Zion Area Events & Festivals
There's almost always something happening in and around Zion - a red-rock half marathon, a music festival under the canyon walls, star parties, hot-air balloons, even a parade of sheep down a small-town Main Street. Here's the year, season by season - or filter by type, place, and month.
Dates move a little each year. We list the season and typical timing so you can plan around them, but always confirm the exact dates on each event's official site before you book. Distances are driving time from Springdale.
Zion Half Marathon
The signature race of the region. Runners line up before dawn on Kolob Terrace Road in Virgin and run a fast, scenic course past Zion's red cliffs to the finish near Springdale. It draws runners from all over the world - a genuine bucket-list half marathon, and one of the most beautiful road races anywhere.
Zion Half Marathon
Late FebPut on by Vacation Races. A point-to-point half through the Zion corridor, plus a race-weekend expo. Entry is popular and sells out - register early.
Winter
The quiet season - small-town holiday cheer, balloons over the desert, and the marquee Zion Half Marathon (featured above).
"Joy to the World" Holiday Celebration
Springdale's cozy holiday kickoff at the gateway to Zion - lights, music, and small-town community cheer.
Springdale events →Balloons & Tunes Roundup
Around 40 hot-air balloons lift off over the red rock across a winter weekend, capped by an evening balloon glow and live music.
Event details →Bryce Canyon Winter Festival
Guided snowshoe tours, cross-country ski clinics, and family activities in the snow-dusted hoodoos, based at Ruby's Inn.
Ruby's Inn →Spring
Wildflowers, ideal running weather, and the region's biggest athletic and arts events.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
A small-town Springdale tradition to shake off winter - community fun right at Zion's doorstep.
Springdale events →St. George Art Festival
A juried outdoor arts festival that fills downtown St. George over the Easter-weekend season with artists, music, and food.
Greater Zion events →Zion Canyon Earth Day & Chalk Fest
Springdale's Earth Day celebration with chalk art, sustainability booths, and canyon-community spirit.
Springdale events →Zion Ultras & Trail Half Marathon
Vacation Races' trail counterpart to the Zion Half - ultra and trail-half distances on the rugged terrain above the canyon.
vacationraces.com →Amazing Earthfest
A multi-day Kanab celebration of the Colorado Plateau - outdoor adventure, science, film, arts, and dark-night-sky programs.
amazingearthfest.org →Ironman 70.3 St. George
A premier triathlon and past North American Championship, drawing elite and amateur athletes to the red-rock roads around St. George.
Greater Zion events →Summer
Long days, dark-sky star parties, and world-class theater a short drive north.
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival
One of the best star parties in the national parks - telescopes, ranger talks, and some of the darkest skies in the country over the hoodoos. Free with park admission.
NPS event page →Utah Shakespeare Festival
A Tony Award–winning repertory theater festival in Cedar City, running plays from summer into fall - a cultured counterpoint to the trails.
bard.org →Western Legends Heritage & Music Festival
Kanab leans into its "Little Hollywood" past with Old West reenactments, cowboy music and poetry, film history, and a Main Street parade.
westernlegendsroundup.com →Grand Canyon Star Party (June) - North Rim status: This 8-night stargazing event runs on both canyon rims. However, the North Rim was heavily damaged by the July 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire (the historic Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed), and North Rim facilities and events have been disrupted while it recovers. Check the NPS event page for current status - the South Rim event continues.
Fall
The region's busiest event stretch - harvest festivals, marathons, music, and a genuine parade of sheep.
Hurricane Peach Days
A heritage harvest festival dating to 1909, with a parade, contests, pioneer displays, and the family-favorite Peach Days Rodeo.
Peach Days →Zion Canyon Music Festival
Southern Utah's premier music festival - live acts under the canyon skies in the back field of The Bit & Spur in Springdale.
zioncanyonmusicfestival.com →St. George Marathon
One of the most popular marathons in the West - a fast, scenic downhill course with lottery entry that fills up fast.
stgeorgemarathon.com →Huntsman World Senior Games
The world's largest annual multi-sport event for athletes 50 and better - more than 10,000 competitors across dozens of sports.
seniorgames.net →Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival
The highlight is the Sheep Parade - hundreds of sheep driven right down Cedar City's Main Street on Saturday morning, a nod to the old tradition of moving flocks between mountain and desert range. Plus ranch rodeo, cowboy poetry, and horse pulls.
cedarlivestockfest.com →Butch Cassidy 10K/5K
A scenic run along the Virgin River from Springdale out toward the historic Grafton ghost town - a fun, local, fall-morning race.
Race info →Zion Canyon Arts & Crafts Fair
Local artists and makers fill Springdale ahead of the holidays - a low-key way to find handmade, canyon-country gifts.
Springdale events →Build a Trip Around an Event
Timing your visit for a race, festival, or star party? Sort out where to stay early - event weekends book up fast - and shape the rest of your days around it.