Summerfest 2025 at Bountiful Davis Art Center: Celebrate Global Performance

Sarina Ehrgott
5 days ago
3 min read

Now in it's 50th year, Summerfest 2025 returns to Bountiful City Park (400 N 200 W, Bountiful, UT) on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9, 10 AM–8 PM. Admission is free.

The festival brings together cultural performers from across the world to entertain, educate, and uplift through dance, music, and heritage performance.

Friday, August 8 — Dance, Music & Cultural Pride

Oaxaca en Utah This local nonprofit ensemble presents the vibrant dance, music, and traditional costumes of Oaxaca, Mexico. Their performances often evoke the spirit of La Guelaguetza and showcase southern Mexican cultural heritage.
Love Juliet A local indie‑folk/pop band known in the Ogden and Salt Lake scenes. Their emotive songwriting and engaging live shows add a contemporary, musical dimension to the festival.
Wasatch Alphorns This Utah ensemble revives the Alpine tradition of Swiss alphorn playing. Their performances include both musical sets and interactive demonstrations that engage audiences with the unique sound of these wooden horns.
Callanis A Celtic dance group performing high‑energy choreography rooted in Irish and Scottish traditions.
Little Cottonwood Bringing regional Utah folk music or dance, rooted in local heritage and Appalachian influence
DANZARTA Latin American folkloric group performing traditional dance from various Latin cultures.
Kargi Kala Kendr Indian classical and Bollywood dance performances blending traditional technique with vibrant storytelling.
Raíces d’Sudaméric A South American folkloric ensemble showcasing dance, costume, and music from Andean and southern cone cultures.

Saturday, August 9 — Island Rhythms, Drums & Storytelling

WXHS Pacific Island Club Pacific Islander students and community members share hula, Tahitian, and Polynesian dance rooted in their cultural heritage.
Mariachi Fuego A traditional mariachi band offering vibrant brass, violin, and vocal performances in the festive folklórico style.
Halau Ku Pono I Kamalani A Hawaiian hula school sharing storytelling through graceful dance that expresses Hawaiian cultural identity.
Hakan UT EcuadorPerformers specializing in Ecuadorian dance traditions—likely featuring Andean instruments, folkloric dances, and regional costume.
Utah Flamenco Gipsy Fire Local flamenco dancers and musicians delivering passionate, gypsy‑rooted dance and song from Spain.
Echoing Spirit Dancers Indigenous dancers performing the Grass Dance and other traditional Native American dances with deep cultural storytelling.
Esencia de Mexico A Mexican folklórico ensemble showcasing traditional dance, clothing, and music drawn from across Mexico’s regions.
Kenshin Taiko Utah’s premier Japanese taiko drumming group, known for thunderous percussion and precise choreography.
Jung Hing Lion Dance Club Traditional Chinese lion dance performers offering high‑energy performances symbolizing luck and vitality.

A Tapestry of Global Performance

This year’s Summerfest lineup weaves together traditions from southern Mexico, South America, the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, India, China, Japan, Spain, Indigenous North American cultures, and regional Utah expression.

Through dance and music, each group shares more than performance—they share cultural narratives shaped by centuries of heritage, storytelling, identity, and community connection.

The performers offer a range of experiences: from interactive demonstrations like the alphorn workshop to dramatic folkloric dances, school‑based ensembles, and ensemble bands whose rhythms and melodies span global soundscapes.

Culture in Motion: Why These Performances Matter

Summerfest puts a spotlight on the power of performance to foster empathy and understanding. In Davis County—where exposure to global cultures can be limited—these performances offer a window into traditions that are both beautiful and meaningful. They invite audiences of all ages to experience cultural diversity in an immersive, celebratory way.

Local cultural groups benefit too, gaining visibility and community support. For many performers, Summerfest is an opportunity to preserve and pass on heritage, particularly for youth and second‑generation communities.

Join us August 8&9, 10am-8PM in Bountiful City Park

And finally, a piece of history: