Open Streets activations run 6:00 – 10:00 pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through October 10
Salt Lake City (September 14, 2020) — Downtown SLC Open Streets will animate the spacious Main Street corridor with expanded patio service areas for restaurants accompanied by buskers and artist activations in various locations from Exchange Place to City Creek Center. This is not a street festival or a block party, but rather an expansion of Main Street pedestrian options to allow residents and visitors the space to enjoy the energy of downtown.
Parts of Main Street will be closed to automobile traffic and open to physically distanced urban fun. Open Streets will run from 6-10 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from September 17th to October 10th.
“We are excited to welcome people downtown for safe shopping, dining, buskers and pop-up performances,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “This move will provide an expansion of Main Street pedestrian options to allow residents and visitors the space to enjoy the energy of downtown. We hope this expansion will lead to an economic stimulus for our local businesses in the commercial area.”
“Downtown Salt Lake City is the heart and soul of Utah and has been dealt tremendous challenges this year through the pandemic, the earthquake, a windstorm and more,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I’m excited to have ‘Open Streets’ coming to Main Street and I hope residents from around the state will join us downtown as we safely begin to reactivate our vibrant and culturally diverse downtown core.”
133 restaurants and bars and over 100 local and downtown-only retailers are open for business. Open Streets is not only an invitation to enjoy Main Street but downtown at large. “Squatters Brewing is enthusiastic about Open Streets in Salt Lake City,” said Maxwell Christen, marketing manager for Squatters and Wasatch beers. “These activations welcome residents and visitors downtown safely, and the influx of people will reverberate to surrounding businesses like Squatters and other local establishments.”
Physical distancing, face coverings, frequent disinfecting and other safety guidelines are requested. Restaurants and shops require facemasks upon entry. $2 parking is available in the parking garage located on Gallivan Avenue thanks to the Wasatch Group. City Creek Center offers complimentary parking for the first two hours.
Open Streets is a partnership between Salt Lake City, the Downtown Alliance and THE BLOCKS to sustain downtown restaurants and retailers.
