In 1969, when a group of local artists set their work out on Main Street for passersby to browse in the summer sun, they surely had no idea that they were creating the town’s signature summer event. But their Park City Arts Festival, run by the Kimball Art Center (kimballartcenter.org) since the late 1970s, has become one of the largest and longest-running events of its kind in the country, attracting nearly 60,000 art lovers a year. What’s more, unlike some cities’ craft fairs, ours is a true arts festival, with a reputation as a collectors’ event that has made it a magnet for top talent and interested buyers.

This year, nearly 900 artists applied to show on the street. A jury chooses the top 200 from 12 categories, and the Park City Professional Artists Association adds 20 more local artists. With items priced from $2 to more than $30,000, there’s always a treasure for everyone to take home. The visual feast also includes a constant stream of eclectic music and abundant food offerings, children’s activities, arts demonstrations, and more. This year’s event takes place August 2–4, and Summit County residents receive free admission Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m.