Basin residents heading to the Summit County Fair can skip the parking scramble and ride free, thanks to a new shuttle partnership between High Valley Transit and Summit County.

High Valley Transit will run a fare-free hourly bus between the Kimball Junction Transit Center and the Summit County Fairgrounds in Coalville on four dates: Saturday, Aug. 1; Thursday, Aug. 6; Friday, Aug. 7; and Saturday, Aug. 8. The service, announced on the agency's rider news page, aligns with the fair's biggest draws: the demolition derby on opening night and three evenings of professional rodeo.

"You can load up at the Kimball Junction Transit Center and ride over here for free," fair manager Tyler Orgill told KPCW on Tuesday, July 28.

Riders who want to drive partway can park at the Ecker Hill Park & Ride and catch Route 101 or Route 10X to Kimball Junction, then transfer to the fair shuttle. High Valley Transit encourages riders to arrive at their stop five to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure; exact timetables are posted at hvtutah.gov.

New on-demand service in Coalville

On the same four dates, a temporary Coalville Microtransit zone will offer fare-free, on-demand rides throughout Coalville, including to and from the fairgrounds. On Saturday, Aug. 1, the microtransit vehicles will operate as a wave-me-down service, meaning riders can flag one down anywhere in the Coalville service area without booking in advance.

Orgill estimated as many as 30,000 people will attend this year's fair, up from the roughly 20,000 that county officials have cited in prior years. The fairgrounds sit at 202 E. Park Rd. in Coalville, and admission is free.

Riders with questions about the shuttle or microtransit can call High Valley Transit at 435-246-1538.

Fair calendar highlights

  • Saturday, Aug. 1 — Demolition derby, 7 p.m. ($24); food vendors, spirits garden, and live music by Maddie Wilson, 5–7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 4 — Little Buckaroo Rodeo timed events, 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 5 — Little Buckaroo Rodeo main event, 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 6 – Saturday, Aug. 8 — PRCA Rodeo, 8 p.m. nightly ($15 adults, $9 ages 4–14, free under 3)
  • Saturday, Aug. 8 — Lions Club Early Bird Breakfast, 7 a.m., Coalville City Hall; inaugural Live for Your Luke 5K and community bike ride, 8 a.m.; parade down Main Street, 10 a.m.; Junior Livestock Sale, noon

The full schedule and ticket links are at summitcountyfair.org.