Provo - A Revived Downtown

In the 2000s, Downtown Provo had become a forgotten remnant of an exciting and illustrious past. But in the past decade, Downtown Provo has seen a renaissance with new restaurants, community events and fun attractions. In fact, it was recently named one of the coolest downtowns in America by Expedia. So what makes Downtown Provo so cool?

The food scene in Downtown Provo is booming. Downtown Provo has over 60 non-chain restaurants, giving plenty of options for any palate. From the humble burger shack, Tommy’s Burgers, to the awarding winning Communal, you can find something to fit your taste and wallet. Looking for something healthy? Good Thyme serves up farm to table dishes, while Ivie Juice Bar offers juice and acai bowls. Downtown Provo also features global cuisines like Brazilian, Japanese, El Salvadorian and Persian.

Provo has also become a hub for the clean comedy scene. ComedySportz is a good old show down between Team Red vs. Team Blue as they compete for the most laughs. Dry Bar Comedy is Provo’s first professional standup comedy venue with renowned comics performing their funniest bits. The Mercury Theatre’s comic group, the Cinematics, perform a 45 minute skit on the fly. Their shows are one weekend a month. ImprovBroadway has several shows a week but their improv has a musical twist. At nearby BYU, you can attend student-run comedy shows like Divine Comedy and Humor U for cheap. If you’re lucky, you can even catch a live filming of the popular clean comedy show Studio C.

Provo has an up-and-coming music scene. Provo music veterans that have made it big include Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees and The National Parks. Many of these bands started their careers performing at the Velour. You can still catch a concert there several nights a week. And who knows? You might be listening to the next hottest band in music! During the summer, Provo City throws free outdoor concerts known as the Rooftop Concert series featuring local bands. Past performers include Kascade, Aqua Bats, and Foreign Figures. Along with the music there are food trucks and vendors so there’s plenty to entertain you. The Rooftop Concert series is the first Friday of the month from May through August. But the concerts aren’t the only cool events going on in Downtown Provo.

Join the locals at one of Downtown Provo’s community events. The Pasifika Festival on Memorial Day celebrates all things Polynesian. Every Saturday through the summer, there is a farmer’s market in Pioneer Park at the west end of Downtown Provo. For the Fourth of July, Downtown Provo becomes the center of the Freedom Festival with hot air balloons, a carnival and a grand parade.

Calling all art lovers! There are several art galleries in Downtown Provo including the Terra Nova Gallery and the Covey Center for the Arts. On the first Friday of every month there is an Art Stroll in Downtown Provo where businesses and restaurants become galleries showcasing local art. The BYU Museum of Art is only a 5-minute drive away and has rotating exhibits. During the fall and winter months, the BYU Museum of Art throws an Art After Dark event with music and food to highlight one of their current exhibits. 15 minutes south of Downtown Provo is the Springville Museum of Art, the oldest art museum in Utah. Located in a southwestern, mission-inspired building, the Springville Museum of Art houses one of the largest collections of Russian art in the country.

Another contributor to the revitalization of Downtown Provo is the Provo Recreation Center. The Provo Rec Center features an indoor and outdoor pool with slides and water playgrounds. Grab your skateboard and check out the skateboard park. You can also take cooking classes there and learn how to cook cuisines from all over the world. The Provo Recreation Center is a hub for fun and community life.

Downtown Provo is once again a happening place. Come to Downtown Provo to experience for yourself the mix of historic buildings, delicious restaurants and exciting vibes.

 

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