Kilby Block Party brings crowds, cash to SLC

SALT LAKE CITY — Indie music festival Kilby Block Party took over the Utah State Fairpark this weekend, drawing about 90,000 fans and delivering a boost to local businesses. Kilby Block Party, now in its seventh year, began Friday and wrapped up Sunday night with a headlining performance by Lorde. Local leaders said the festival continues to grow in size and reputation, attracting national attention and visitors from across the country. “It’s grown in ways that are so exciting and creating national attention,” said Dee Brewer, executive director of the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance.Fans traveled from the state and across the country, filling hotels and frequenting restaurants before and after performances. “With a music festival like this, the diehards are there for many hours, but they also go out before and after,” Brewer said. “There’s exogenous spending in restaurants, and I imagine hotels are feeling this.” The festival’s reputation even earned a recent nod from “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings, who praised it as “such a well-run festival” during an episode taping of the show.Beyond big-name acts, Kilby Block Party also serves as a platform for small businesses, particularly food vendors and local entrepreneurs set up around the fairgrounds. “There’s a whole plethora of different food trucks and businesses coming together,” said Asa Connell, who worked at the Hangry food truck during the event. Connell said the festival offers valuable exposure to a wide audience. "It's just kind of great to see everyone from California, Chicago, even New York, people fly in from all over to come to Utah and put on a little jam session," he said.Brewer said not all of these new customers are young. Ticket holders range in age from 18 - 55 and older. "Modest mouse has been around for 20, 30 years and was a big draw yesterday," he said. "The music business doesn't forget people like me who have the resources to travel and go to shows." Brewer noted that weekends like this, which also included events such as the Living Traditions Festival and Utah Opera performances, rank among the busiest for downtown businesses. "The biggest spikes come with multiple events," he said. For city leaders and business owners, the turnout signals a strong economic impact and continued growth for Salt Lake City as a destination for large-scale events.

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