Robert Redford began the noted Sundance Institute Film Festival in 1981 as a venue for independent films that otherwise had a difficult time reaching the screen or a mass audience. In subsequent years, the Sundance Festival has become the nation’s foremost venue for new and innovative cinema.
Sundance Institute Film Festival is held the second half of January, at the height of the ski season, so Park City [1] is absolutely packed and then some. (As the festival has grown, some films are now shown at the Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City.) Definitely make plans well in advance if you want to attend any of the screenings or festival activities.
Tickets to the screenings can be hard to come by, especially for films with advance reputations or big stars; if you can’t get tickets, put your name on waiting lists or join the lines at the theaters for canceled tickets. However, tickets to less well-known films are usually available at the last minute. If you are coming to Park City expressly to see the films, inquire about package tours that include tickets.
Park City is exciting during the festival, as the glitterati of New York and Hollywood descend on the town. You’ll see movie stars, some wild clothing, and lots of deal-making. For information on the Sundance Festival, call its information number (435/328-FILM) or check the website (www.sundance.org [2]).
As you'd expect in a ski resort, nightlife centers on bars and dance clubs. The principal hangouts are on Main Street, though all the lodges and resorts and most of the larger hotels have bars and clubs of their own.
The trendy Harry O's (427 Main St., 435/655-7597, http://harryos-pc.com [3]) is the largest music venue in town, with a large, crowded dance floor.
The more down-home No Name Saloon (447 Main St., 435/649-6667, www.nonamesaloon.net [4]) has darts, pool, and live music nightly.
Duck down into The Spur (352 Main St., 435/615-1618, www.thespurbarandgrill.com [5], 3 p.m.-close daily) for rock, acoustic folk, or bluegrass and a friendly, convivial atmosphere.
The Sidecar (333 Main St., 435/645-7468, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. daily) is another low-key place with good live music most nights.
Cisero's (306 Main St., 435/649-6800, www.ciseros.com [6]) has live music Wednesday-Saturday and a big-screen TV for sports.
Jazz and pop singers entertain nightly at the Riverhorse Cafe (540 Main St., 435/649-3536, www.riverhorsegroup.com [7], 5:30-10 p.m. daily).
You can drink a microbrew and chat with friends at Wasatch Brew Pub (250 Main St., 435/649-0900, www.wasatchbeers.com [8], 4 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-midnight Sat.-Sun.) or, north of the Main Street neighborhood, at Squatter's Pub (1900 Park Ave., 435/649-9868, www.squatters.com [9], 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.).
Contact the Park City Visitor Information Center (1826 Olympic Pkwy., 435/658-9616, www.parkcityinfo.com [10]) for the latest news on happenings around town. The year's biggest event is in January, when the stars come to town for the Sundance Film Festival.
The Park City International Music Festival (435/649-5309, www.pcmusicfestival.com [11]) presents concerts year-round with an emphasis on the festival's acclaimed summer concert series (throughout July at the Canyons [12]).
Cowboys and cowgirls compete in the Oakley Rodeo (435/783-5753, www.oakleycity.com [13]) on the Fourth of July weekend (Thurs.-Sat.), 15 miles east in Oakley.
In August, more than 200 artists exhibit their work on Main Street for the Arts Festival (435/649-8882, www.kimballartcenter.org [14], $10).
Summit County Fair (202 East Park Rd., 435/336-3221, www.co.summit.ut.us [15], Aug.), in nearby Coalville, has a parade, rodeo, horse show, roping, demolition derby, entertainment, and exhibits.
The Park City Film Series (435/615-8291, www.parkcityfilmseries.com [16], Sept.-June) offers art, foreign, and classic films at the Jim Santy Auditorium (1255 Park Ave.).
Ski areas open in November. In celebration, there's a big street dance, ski racing, and fireworks, usually near Thanksgiving.
Summer is music festival time in Park City [1]. The Utah Symphony and other classical performers take the stage at Deer Valley [17]'s outdoor amphitheater (2250 Deer Valley Dr. S., 435/649-1000) from the third week of July to the third week of August for a summer concert series.
The Canyons [12] (801/536-1234, www.thecanyons.com [18]) offers rock, country, and jazz concerts on Saturday evenings late July-late August.
The Park City International Music Festival (435/649-5309, July) offers chamber music at Kimball Art Center [19] (638 Park Ave., 435/649-8882) and Park City Community Church (4501 N. Highway 224, 435/649-8131, www.parkcitycommunitychurch.org [20]).
There are free summer concerts on Wednesday evenings 6-8 p.m. at Deer Valley's Snow Park amphitheater (435/901-7664, www.deervalley.com [21]).
The Egyptian Theatre Company (www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org [22]) puts on dramas, comedies, musicals, and children's shows year-round in the historic Egyptian Theatre (328 Main St., 435/649-9371).
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/park-city-and-the-wasatch-range/park-city
[2] http://www.sundance.org
[3] http://harryos-pc.com
[4] http://www.nonamesaloon.net
[5] http://www.thespurbarandgrill.com
[6] http://www.ciseros.com
[7] http://www.riverhorsegroup.com
[8] http://www.wasatchbeers.com
[9] http://www.squatters.com
[10] http://www.parkcityinfo.com
[11] http://www.pcmusicfestival.com
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/park-city-and-the-wasatch-range/park-city/canyons-resort
[13] http://www.oakleycity.com
[14] http://www.kimballartcenter.org
[15] http://www.co.summit.ut.us
[16] http://www.parkcityfilmseries.com
[17] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/park-city-and-the-wasatch-range/park-city/deer-valley-resort
[18] http://www.thecanyons.com
[19] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/park-city-and-the-wasatch-range/park-city/sights
[20] http://www.parkcitycommunitychurch.org
[21] http://www.deervalley.com
[22] http://www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org