Civic & community event planningUtah's Wasatch Front

Utah event planning for cities & communitiesThoughtfully planned events for the places you call home

Festivals, parades, expos, ribbon cuttings and town halls, planned with care from the first idea to the final cleanup. We handle the permits, vendors and volunteers so your community can simply gather and enjoy.

Led by Anna Nelson: 11+ years of event experience, including 9+ in city government

  • Festivals
  • Parades
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Groundbreakings
  • Town Halls
  • Expos & Fairs
  • Holiday Celebrations
  • Ceremonies

Welcome

Every community has moments worth gathering for. We plan them with the polish of a private event and the know-how that public events demand, so the day feels effortless for everyone who comes.

11+

Years of event and operations experience

9+

Years of city government experience

10,000+

Guests at the city events Anna has led

Grants

Extensive experience securing event funding

Anna Nelson, founder of Wasatch Community Events
Anna NelsonFounder & Lead Planner

Meet the founder

Hello, I'm Anna

With more than 11 years of experience leading large-scale events and programs from concept to execution, Anna is the calm, organized presence you want beside you when the to-do list grows long.

Anna brings more than nine years of city government experience, including directing the strategy, planning and execution of large-scale city events serving more than 10,000 people, from fireworks celebrations to candlelight vigils. She knows public events from the inside: the permits, the departments, the vendors and sponsors, and the council members who want to know it will all go smoothly. She also has extensive experience securing grant funding for events, helping budgets stretch further without cutting what makes an event special.

She also brings corporate event experience as an Event Coordinator at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, partnering with senior leadership to plan large-scale, company-wide events, plus four years supporting a city's Development Services leadership, so she understands how city government works and how to keep busy teams organized and on track.

Her specialty is bringing structure to complex, fast-moving projects: timelines, budgets, logistics and clear communication with every stakeholder, so the big day feels effortless. She is as at ease in a city hall meeting as she is at a festival gate.

  • City government9+ years of event management & executive supportLarge-scale city festivals, civic ceremonies, permits, budgets and council reporting
  • Corporate eventsEvent Coordinator, Goldman SachsLarge-scale, company-wide events planned with senior leadership
  • Event fundingGrant research & applicationsExtensive experience securing grants for public events
  • EducationBachelor of Educational StudiesWestern Governors University

"I'm passionate about creating meaningful experiences, building strong partnerships, and improving how teams operate behind the scenes."

Anna

Services

Events we love to plan

  1. 01

    Festivals & Celebrations

    City days, holiday festivities, Fourth of July and Pioneer Day, concerts in the park and seasonal markets.

  2. 02

    Parades & Street Events

    Route planning, road closures, entry management and staging, with thoughtful traffic and safety plans.

  3. 03

    Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings

    Polished ceremonies for new parks, buildings and businesses: run of show, speakers, press and photography.

  4. 04

    Town Halls & Open Houses

    Public input sessions and community open houses that feel organized, welcoming and accessible.

  5. 05

    Ceremonies & Recognitions

    Dedications, memorials, swearing-in ceremonies, volunteer appreciation evenings and awards.

  6. 06

    Expos, Fairs & Vendor Markets

    Community expos, business and home shows, resource and health fairs, job fairs and vendor markets: floor plans, exhibitor and vendor registration, booth layout, load-in and attendee flow.

  7. 07

    Partial & Day-of Coordination

    Already have an events team? We step in for a single event, a busy season or day-of support.

  8. 08

    Grant Applications & Event Funding

    Stretch your budget further. Anna has extensive experience securing grants for public events, and she'll research the right opportunities for yours and prepare the applications, from arts and tourism grants to community and sponsorship funding, so more of your vision can come to life.

The details

Everything handled, beautifully

Public events come with more moving parts than private ones. We manage each of them with care and keep your department informed at every step.

  • Special event permits, insurance & approvals
  • Coordination with police, fire, public works & parks
  • Vendors, exhibitors, food trucks & entertainment
  • Volunteer recruiting & day-of scheduling
  • Budgets, sponsorships & reporting for council
  • Grant research & applications to help fund your event
  • Accessibility, signage, sanitation & cleanup
  • Promotion & community outreach
  • A thoughtful wrap-up report after every event

Our approach

From first conversation to final farewell

  1. I

    Consultation

    We meet with your team to understand your goals, audience, budget and date.

  2. II

    Proposal

    A clear scope, timeline and estimate, ready to share with your manager or council.

  3. III

    Planning

    Permits, departments, vendors and volunteers, all coordinated with regular check-ins.

  4. IV

    Event day

    We run the day on site, then deliver a wrap-up you can share with stakeholders.

Portfolio

Events Anna has led

A few of the public events Anna has directed, from multi-day festivals and holiday celebrations to quiet remembrances.

Crowd watching a fireworks finale at night

Signature festival · Every June

Vineyard Days

Vineyard City's largest and most widely attended celebration, with Anna as show director. A multi-day summer festival at Vineyard Grove Park that drew crowds from across Utah County, formerly known as Heritage Days.

  • Grand parade on Center Street
  • Fireworks & drone show finales
  • Concerts, block party & Battle of the Bands
  • Carnival, car show & art show
  • 10K, 5K & Kids 1K races
  • Movie in the park & pickleball tournaments
  • Food trucks & vendor coordination
  • Ribbon-cutting ceremonies
A tall Christmas tree glowing with lights at night as people gather at its base

Holiday celebration · The Greenline

Vineyard Tree Lighting

A festive evening on The Greenline at Utah City, planned by Anna, where the community gathered to see a 40-foot Christmas tree light up for the season.

  • 40-foot tree lighting moment
  • Free sleigh rides
  • Visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Food & holiday treats
  • Partnership with Utah City
  • Evening crowd & site logistics
Small American flags planted in a grass lawn

Remembrance

9/11 Patriot Day Ceremony

An annual remembrance at Vineyard Grove Park honoring first responders, which drew thousands from across the area.

People holding lit candles at an evening walk

Community awareness

Walk for Hope

A candlelight walk for domestic violence awareness, held with nonprofit partner The Refuge Utah, to let neighbors in need know where to turn.

Children in Halloween costumes trick-or-treating

Holiday

Halloween at Grove Park

A family trick-or-treat evening in the park, where residents and visitors come in costume for a safe, festive night out.

Smiling runners with race bibs at a fun run

Races

Vineyard City Fun Runs

Heritage Days and Summer Celebration 10K, 5K and Kids 1K races, from course planning and registration to race-day volunteers.

Photos are representative stock images from Pexels, not from the events themselves.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do you have an event venue?

No. We plan and manage events wherever your community gathers: city parks, streets, civic buildings, campuses and partner venues. We bring the planning, coordination and day-of management to you.

What kinds of events do you plan?

Public and community events for cities, counties and community organizations, including festivals and city celebrations, parades and street events, ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings, town halls and open houses, expos, fairs and vendor markets, civic ceremonies, holiday events and fun runs.

Do you work with cities and government agencies?

Yes, that is our specialty. Anna has more than nine years of city government experience, so she understands special event permits, coordination with police, fire, public works and parks, procurement and budgets, and reporting back to council.

Can you help us find grant funding for our event?

Yes. Anna has extensive experience securing grants for public events. We can research grant opportunities, from arts and tourism grants to community and sponsorship funding, and prepare the applications for you.

What areas of Utah do you serve?

We serve communities along the Wasatch Front, including Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Summit counties, with cities such as Provo, Orem, Lehi, Vineyard, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, Salt Lake City and Park City. Events farther afield are welcome on request.

Can you help with just part of an event?

Absolutely. If you already have an events team, we can step in for a single event, a busy season, permitting and vendor coordination, grant applications, or day-of coordination.

How far in advance should we reach out?

As early as you can. Large public events often need several months for permits, road closures, vendors and sponsors, while smaller ceremonies like ribbon cuttings can come together more quickly. Reach out and we'll tell you what's realistic for your date.

Inquire

Let's plan something lovely

Share a few details about your event and Anna will reply within one business day to arrange a brief, no-pressure call.

Emailanna@wasatchcommunityevents.com

ServingUtah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber & Summit counties

Anna will reply within one business day.