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In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Utah Arts Festival is offering free admission on its opening day, Thursday, June 23. "We're so excited about the opportunity to kick-off this year with a free day," said Lisa Sewell, executive director of the Utah Arts Festival. "Making art accessible to everyone is one of our core values, and we are thrilled to have a free entry day, thanks to a grant from the Utah Division of Heritage & Arts and the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. We invite everyone in the community to come out and experience the Festival."

If you haven't attended the Utah Arts Festival before, or if it's been awhile since you joined in on the fun, now is your opportunity to experience this celebrated four-day event, which runs Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26. From art that stretches the imagination to performing artists and musical groups that will keep you swaying to the beat, there's so much to see and do during the Festival. Here are your top reasons to enjoy the Utah Arts Festival this year:

1. Nearly 200 Artists will have You Oohing and Aahing

For 40 years, the Utah Arts Festival has been celebrating artists from Utah and around the world. This year is no different—nearly 200 artists will be in attendance, showcasing their work. The Festival is also excited to present "40 of 117," a stunning retrospective exhibit of selected Utah artists' works. It will run at The Gallery at Library Square, 4th floor from June 23 thru July 31, with an opening reception on Thursday, June 23, at 6-7:30 p.m.

2. Music Galore will Keep You Jazzed

More than 100 musicians and groups will keep you rocking the night away throughout the four-day event. The Utah Symphony is back after a 15 year hiatus on the Festival Stage, Friday, June 24, at 6 p.m. They will be followed by several acclaimed musicians and groups. Here's a rundown of just some of the bands taking over the Festival's six stage:

• Slow Magic, a mystery DJ (Fri, June 24, 8:30 p.m.)

• Beats Antique, an electronic world performance art band (Fri, June 24, 9:45 p.m.)

• Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year (Sat, June 25, 9:45 p.m.)

• CimarrĂ³n, the full-throttle Colombian joropo ensemble (Sun, June 26, 8:15 p.m.)

• The Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin's bluegrass band just named one of 10 best acts to play at MerleFest (Sun, June 26, 9:45 p.m.)

• Mingo Fishtrap, a country soul group out of Austin, Texas (Sun, June 26, 9:45 p.m.)

• Jet Black Pearl, international accordion diva sure to wow audiences with rap and beat box (Sun, June 26, 6:30 p.m.)

3. Performing Artists will Light up the Stage

Beyond music, the Festival will showcase talented performing artists, including Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International, a large-scale, extreme stilter street performing troupe from the UK that is sure to wow audiences. Nine of Ballet West's principal dancers and dancers of the Professional Training Division of Ballet West Academy will also take the stage, presenting three pieces and a fourth Utah Arts Festival commissioned piece by Ballet West's Adrian Fry. Utah's Repertory Dance Theatre and Emmy Award-winning musician/folklorist Hall Cannon and his band 3hattrio will team up to present Crippled Up Blues and a world premiere by RDT's Young Dancer Workshop.

4. Hands-on Fun to Get You in on the Action

Patrons don't come to the Utah Arts Festival to keep their hands to themselves and this year there are more opportunities than ever to make art, visually, musically, and technologically. Whether Shibori fabric dyeing, prayer flag painting, or attending a songwriter workshop by the Intermountain Acoustic Music Association (IAMA), or playing a harmonica or making a cigar box guitar with the Utah Blues Society, Festival-goers are invited to become engaged in hand-on activities.

5. Take in a Short Film at the Fear No Film

Working with the largest number of submissions in its history, Fear No Film 2016 presents seven programs of short films identifying, exploring and deconstructing the theme of "Transitions." While many of the selected films have Utah connections, also featured are films from producers throughout the U.S. and the world—Australia, Spain, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, France, and more.

The Details:

The 40th Utah Arts Festival runs Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26, from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Washington & Library squares, 400 South and 200 East in downtown Salt Lake City.

Tickets are on sale online now through June 17! Get your adult admission tickets early for only $8. During the event, tickets will be $12 at the gate, cash only. Thursday admission is free to everyone!

Visit www.uaf.org for all the latest details, news, and artist information.