First Fridays at the River's Edge: The Arts and Ag Market Returns to Moab

Moab’s free Arts and Ag Market at Swanny City Park runs on five Friday evenings in 2026: May 8, June 12, July 10, September 11, and October 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. Local artisans, farm produce, and live music share the space against a backdrop of Moab’s red rock canyon country. No dogs permitted at the park during events.

Start date

8 May, 2026 5:00 PM

End date

9 October, 2026 8:00 PM

Event details

Moab’s Arts and Ag Market is a free, seasonal outdoor market held at Swanny City Park, 400 N 100 W, on five selected Friday evenings from May through October 2026. The 2026 market dates are May 8, June 12, July 10, September 11, and October 9, all running from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Each date brings together local and regional artists, fresh produce from area farms, and live music in a park setting framed by Moab’s red rock canyon rim to the east and the Colorado River corridor a few blocks to the west. Admission is free. There is no parking fee at the adjacent city lots.

The market’s vendor mix changes across the season as produce availability shifts, but consistently includes handmade ceramics, wearable fiber arts, photography, paintings, woodwork, and locally grown vegetables and herbs. The July 10 date coincides with the city’s Free Concert Series, adding a dedicated music component to the evening that draws a broader crowd than the standard market nights. Vendor registration for the full season runs $60; individual date registration is $20. Non-profit organizations and information tables participate at no cost. Note that dogs are not permitted at Swanny City Park during market events, a policy in place since the market’s current format launched.

Moab in May and the River Below

May is one of Moab’s most rewarding months, before the peak summer heat settles into the canyon country. Daytime highs run in the high 70s to low 80s, cooling sharply by evening as canyon walls release the day’s warmth after sundown, which is what makes a 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. market format particularly well-suited to the location. The Colorado River, which runs through the canyon southwest of Swanny City Park, is at or near peak spring flows in early May following snowmelt from the Colorado Rockies, making it one of the better windows for guided raft trips through the Fisher Towers and Hittle Bottom sections. Half-day flatwater tours are available from several outfitters on Highway 128, the Colorado River Scenic Byway, less than five minutes from the park.

If You’re Going with Kids
Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park are both within 30 minutes of Moab and are among the most consistently family-accessible national parks in the Southwest. Arches’ Landscape Arch trail is a flat, easy two-mile round trip. Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky visitor center overlooks a canyon system 1,000 feet deep and is suitable for children of all ages with no hiking required.

The October Market: A Different Moab

The October 9 market is the season’s final date and coincides with peak canyon country fall color, when cottonwoods along the Colorado River turn a sharp, backlit gold against the red sandstone walls. Evening temperatures drop quickly after sundown in October, so a jacket is useful. The October market draws a mix of summer tourists lingering past the peak and local residents who reclaim the town as crowds thin. It is the quietest and arguably the most pleasant evening of the five market dates.

Where to Stay Near the Colorado River

Moab’s lodging ranges from downtown boutique hotels to campgrounds directly on the Colorado River along Highway 128. For vacation rentals near the Colorado River and the Moab canyon corridor, look on Lake.com for properties that place you within easy reach of both the market at Swanny City Park and the river-based recreation that defines the region. Summer weekends book well in advance, and the May 8 opening market date falls within one of the busiest weekends of the spring season, so plan lodging at least four to six weeks ahead.