This summer, the Heber Valley is marking our nation’s historic milestone not just with fireworks, but with paint, music, and storytelling. As the country approaches its 250th birthday on July 4th, our corner of Utah is bursting with arts events that invite every resident and visitor to participate in the celebration. Here’s a look at what’s happening and how you can be part of it.
Over the past several months, local Midway residents have been working on a unique community art project. Local residents have been painting individual ceramic tiles, each one its own small creative work. Those tiles are now being assembled into a single large-scale public mural that will become a permanent piece of public art in the city. Hundreds of individual pieces of artwork, one cohesive image, celebrating our nation’s independence.
The Midway Art Association’s Wasatch Plein Air Paradise runs June 20 through July 4th, bringing some of the region’s most talented painters out into the valley to work in the open air. These painters are capturing light, landscape, and atmosphere in real time, often in a single session. The festival’s Quick Draw and Auction distills that down to its most intense form, with artists completing a finished work in just 90 minutes. If you have never watched a professional painter work under that kind of pressure, it is worth making time for.
Timpanogos Valley Theatre is staging “1776” from late June through the 4th of July. The musical follows the founding fathers as they argue, negotiate, and ultimately vote their way to the Declaration of Independence. It is sharp, funny, and moving. The cast will be performing a matinee show on July 4th at 2:00 PM.
The Red, White and Blue Festival fills the whole day at Heber Main Street Park on the 4th. It’s a free, all-ages event, and for the arts crowd there is plenty to enjoy: a sidewalk chalk art contest, a local market featuring handcrafted goods from local vendors, and an evening concert with local musicians playing patriotic favorites. The Stomp It Out Cloggers kick off the evening as the pre-show act before the main concert begins.
If you haven’t already heard the news, the Utah Symphony performing live at Midway Town Square on the 4th of July. The Symphony is touring a select number of communities across Utah as part of its statewide America250 celebration, and Midway is on that list. The evening program has a patriotic flair, drawing from classical favorites, Broadway selections, American folk music, and more. The concert is free and open to everyone.
The Utah Symphony is also searching for a piece of Utah’s musical history. In partnership with the Church History Museum, they are looking for fiddles, violins, and other instruments that have been in Utah families since the pioneer era. If something like that is sitting in your attic, they want to hear about it. Selected instruments may be restored and displayed ahead of Temple Square’s 2027 reopening, with family stories preserved through StoryCorps. The instrument does not need to be in playable condition, and the story does not need to be complete. Their experts will be evaluating instruments prior to the July 4th concert at Midway Town Square.
Finally, when the last note fades, the celebration closes at Memorial Hill with a fireworks display. A beloved tradition in the Heber Valley to mark another year of our nation’s independence.
| Midway America250 Community Mural |
| If you have painted tiles at home, please return them to the City Office as soon as possible. If you still have kits that haven’t been painted, please take the opportunity to paint them or return the kit to the City Office. Bring your completed tiles to the City Offices during office hours M-TH 7:30 AM-5:30 PM. Learn More→ |
| Plein Air Paradise |
| Art exhibition, sale and silent auction will be held at Midway Town Hall on June 30th from 6-9 pm; July 1st-3rd from 9-6 pm, and July 4th from 9-4 pm. Learn More → |
| Timpanogos Valley Theatre presents 1776 |
| Performances will be on the evenings of June 24-27, 29, July 1, and 3 at 7:00 pm with a matinee on July 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Get Tickets → |
| Red White & Blue Festival |
| From dawn until dusk, there is something for everyone. Get the full day’s schedule and bring the whole family. Learn More → |
| Utah Symphony in Midway |
| This event is free to the public and family friendly. Learn more about what to expect, get ADA information and more. Performance begins at 8:00 pm. Learn More →Pioneer Fiddle Search Info → |