The Independent

The Independent Southern Utah’s source for events, live music, theater, festivals, and cultural happenings in St. George, Zion, Cedar City, Kanab, and Mesquite.

Your go-to guide since 1996. SUindependent.com
Est. 1996~Pub Publisher, Josh Warburton: [email protected] Twitter:

Editor, James McFadden: [email protected]

Graphic Designer, Josh Segovia: [email protected] Twitter:

Office Manager, Nikki Slade: [email protected]

Advertising Sales, Scott Dunford: [email protected]

The Independent, est. 1996, is St. George and southern Utah's news, opinion, politics, culture, coupon and events guide. It is published in print the first Friday of each month and daily online at SUindependent.com. The Independent also includes Clip-n-Save, a coupon based direct-mailer & insert, which offers discounts and offers on products and services for the greater St. George and southern Utah areas.

The Red Rock Film Festival is celebrating its twentieth anniversary from September 23 through September 26, 2026, at the...
09/16/2026

The Red Rock Film Festival is celebrating its twentieth anniversary from September 23 through September 26, 2026, at the Performing Arts Center in St. George. The four-day event showcases independent films from Utah and around the world, featuring productions by local creators as well as Oscar- and Emmy-recognized filmmakers.

Highlighting the diverse lineup is Snowland, a feature documentary by Park City filmmaker Jill Orschel that follows a former child bride from a Colorado City polygamist sect who creates a fantasy world to survive and heal. Local storytelling also takes center stage in Ba Ba Bound, a film by Ben Blaskovic shot entirely in St. George at locations like Pineview High School, featuring local residents alongside German actors. Meanwhile, J.L. Topkis’s Ephemera, UT, filmed in Heber City and Park City, explores generational values and wealth disparity through the sale of a high-end Boy Scout collection.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Red Rock Film Festival in St. George, Utah, from September 23–26, 2026, with independent features, shorts, and world premieres.

Cedar Music Store and Studio has unveiled its newly expanded facility, offering local musicians more instruments, gear, ...
09/15/2026

Cedar Music Store and Studio has unveiled its newly expanded facility, offering local musicians more instruments, gear, and instructional opportunities than ever before. Owners Derrek and Leslie Adams, who originally took over the business in 2019, decided it was time to grow in order to better meet the needs of Southern Utah's thriving creative community. Moving from their original corner store on the south end of town to a larger building was only the first step, and this latest expansion represents their continued dedication to the regional music scene.

The updated space boasts the largest inventory selection in Southern Utah. Customers can browse a massive floor display that showcases over ninety guitars, ten drumkits, and a varying selection of keyboards, brass, woodwind, and orchestral instruments. The expansion also introduces a brand-new humidified string section to safeguard delicate acoustic instruments.

Discover the expanded Cedar Music Store and Studio, featuring new lesson rooms for over one hundred students and a humidified string section.

Rural Opportunities for Arts (ROAR) in partnership with the Kane County Active Living Centers and the Kane County Center...
09/13/2026

Rural Opportunities for Arts (ROAR) in partnership with the Kane County Active Living Centers and the Kane County Center for the Arts (KCCA) are presenting a free workshop entitled “Make Botanical Prints with Gelli Plates” at the Kanab Senior Center on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Creative Aging certified teaching artist Lanell D**e will be teaching the workshop. She teaches watercolor and printmaking classes throughout Southern Utah, emphasizing accessibility and confidence-building to make art-making enjoyable for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Gelli plate printing, or gel printing, is an accessible form of monoprinting that uses a soft, reusable gelatinous plate. Artists apply acrylic paint to the surface, create textures or patterns using everyday objects like stencils, bubble wrap, or leaves, and transfer the unique design onto paper or fabric.

Two classes will be offered on Tuesday, September 15.

A free botanical Gelli plate printmaking workshop taught by Lanell D**e comes to the Kanab Senior Center on September 15, 2026, as part of the Kaleidoscope festival.

The annual Fort Desolation Music and Adventure Travel Fest is making its highly anticipated return to Southern Utah, off...
09/13/2026

The annual Fort Desolation Music and Adventure Travel Fest is making its highly anticipated return to Southern Utah, offering an unmatched combination of world-class music and spectacular outdoor exploration. From September 24 through September 26, 2026, music lovers and adventure seekers will gather at Cougar Ridge Resort in Torrey, just minutes from the breathtaking cliffs and canyons of Capitol Reef National Park.

This year's mainstage lineup features an incredible mix of national and regional talent, headlined by the likes of Drive-By Truckers, Andrew Bird, and Rayland Baxter. Attendees can also catch performances by Grahame Lesh and Friends, Futurebirds, Tune-Yards, and Bella White. Between the main sets, a brand-new second stage called the Sidewinder will showcase local artists, ensuring the music keeps flowing all weekend.

What makes this festival truly unique is its balance of daytime adventure and evening concerts.

Enjoy three nights of live music under the stars at Fort Desolation Fest near Capitol Reef National Park, featuring Drive-By Truckers, Andrew Bird, and scenic gravel rides.

On October 10, the towering walls of Zion Canyon will become the backdrop for a new kind of arts experience as the inaug...
09/13/2026

On October 10, the towering walls of Zion Canyon will become the backdrop for a new kind of arts experience as the inaugural Zion Canyon Art Festival's Autumn Art Walk unfolds throughout Springdale. Rather than the gathering being located within a traditional festival footprint, the Art Walk invites visitors to explore the town itself—discovering art, music, food, and creative experiences along the way.

Designed as a self-guided experience, the Art Walk stretches through Springdale’s galleries, restaurants, businesses, and gathering spaces, with Zion Canyon providing an extraordinary natural setting. Visitors can create their own route and move at their own pace, stopping for an exhibition, discovering an artist at work, listening to live music, or finding an unexpected activation. A digital map will help connect the participating locations and make it easy to plan a day of exploration.

Explore Springdale's galleries, restaurants, and shops on foot during the inaugural Zion Canyon Art Festival Autumn Art Walk on October 10, 2026.

Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Harrisburg Junction, about six miles northeast of St. George..Difficulty: Gener...
09/10/2026

Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Harrisburg Junction, about six miles northeast of St. George..

Difficulty: Generally easy with long stretches of loose deep sand, some rocky stretches, and a few places where tall dry falls must be avoided by circling around them. There is little elevation change on the hike.

Average Hiking Time: About 1 ½ hours at a leisurely pace with many photo stops. The hike is about .2.2 miles round trip.

Family Friendly: Generally yes. The hike may be a bit much for small children.

Finding the Trailhead: From St. George travel north on Interstate 15, departing the freeway at Exit 16, State Route 9 (aka West State Street), toward Hurricane. About 1.1 miles from the beginning of Exit 16 turn right (south) and exit State Route 9 at the first opportunity. This exit is unnamed other than State Route 9 exit. Stay on this exit for about .1 mile as it circles around and intersects North Coral Canyon Boulevard.

How about a short hike to a colorful wash close to St. George? At the beginning of the hike you also get to walk under Interstate 15 through a ten feet diameter steel pipe. That sounds great. My wife, Deb, and I thought this is an adventure for us. The hike is along Spanish Wash Trail in the Red Cli...

After a busy summer keeping audiences cool and entertained, St. George's premier improv comedy troupe, So U, is ready to...
09/10/2026

After a busy summer keeping audiences cool and entertained, St. George's premier improv comedy troupe, So U, is ready to bring laughter into the autumn season. Performing with the much-welcomed comfort of air conditioning, the talented group specializes in completely unscripted, spontaneous theater. Every scene and character is built entirely on the spot, driven by suggestions shouted out by the audience.

With a diverse cast hailing from different backgrounds, the troupe remains dedicated to making the art of improv accessible to everyone. The active roster blends seasoned veterans who have been performing for up to a decade, such as Jay, Anitra, and Trey, with enthusiastic newcomers like Rhett, Christian, and Austin. Among the crowd favorites is Greg, renowned for his legendary, silent impression of the Mona Lisa. Another prominent player is Bald Nate, who split-duties with Off The Cuff in Cedar City.

Cool off and laugh out loud with So U improv comedy in St. George this fall, featuring family-friendly, uncensored, and Halloween-themed shows.

Homeowners across Washington County and beyond are invited to get a head start on the home improvement projects they wan...
09/09/2026

Homeowners across Washington County and beyond are invited to get a head start on the home improvement projects they want to complete before the holiday season at the St. George Home Expo, taking place September 11–13, 2026, at the Dixie Convention Center. Hosted by Nationwide Expos, this three-day event brings together the region's leading home improvement professionals, remodeling specialists, landscapers, designers, and home service providers under one roof.

Whether attendees are planning a full renovation, preparing their home for winter, upgrading outdoor spaces, or simply gathering ideas for future projects, the show offers an opportunity to compare products, meet local experts face-to-face, and take advantage of exclusive event-only offers. Sol Lee, Director of Marketing at Nationwide Expos, explained that with the holiday season just around the corner, September is the perfect time for homeowners to begin tackling projects before schedules become busier.

Explore kitchen, bath, landscape, and solar trends at the free-admission St. George Home Expo, running September 11–13, 2026, at the Dixie Convention Center.

HORRORFEST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SPECIAL GUESTS, RETRO SCREENINGS, AN AWARDS CEREMON...
09/09/2026

HORRORFEST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SPECIAL GUESTS, RETRO SCREENINGS, AN AWARDS CEREMONY, AND MORE!

From September 16th to 19th, horror fans will discover that hauntings are reel as the HorrorFest International Film Festival returns to The Electric Theater. Presented by the 501(C)(3) nonprofit, The Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah, this 4 day celebration of horror films (shorts and features) from all around the globe, is the perfect event to usher in a quickly approaching Halloween season.

HFI 2026 will open with a special preview night get-together on Tuesday, September 15th. Proceedings will include an Electric Film Series screening of What Lies Beneath followed by a screening of a little 80s masterwork called Poltergeist. The festivities will truly begin, however, on Wednesday, September 18th.

HORRORFEST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SPECIAL GUESTS, RETRO SCREENINGS, AN AWARDS CEREMONY, AND MORE! From September 16th to 19th, horror fans will discover that hauntings are reel as the HorrorFest International Film Festival returns to The Electric Theater. Presented...

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