For Festival Beginners

Knowledgeable Festival volunteers known as “Festival Insiders” will be hanging out and about Main Street and venues with “Ask Me” buttons to answer all your questions. There are also free one-hour “How To Fest” tours that will be given daily at 10am from Jan 20th-28th to help you figure things out. Just meet on the patio at the Sundance House, no registration required.

How Can I Get Tickets?

Egyptian Theatre on Main Street in Park Ctiy

You can no longer purchase Festival passes and ticket packages but you still can purchase individual tickets for $15, if available, either on the day of show which are released at the box office at 8am, wait list tickets at the Theatre and open tickets online (from Jan 17th-Jan 27) and the main box offices. These tickets are limited so you may not be able to see all the movies you want, especially for opening weekend and Premiere categories, but there certainly will be some still available.

Go to the Individual Ticket page at the Sundance Film Festival website to view what is available for purchasing online (as open tickets) or more information about day of show and wait list tickets.

Where Can I Park?

There will be free and paid parking lots available, but note that many places that you usually are able to park in Park City will be closed during the Festival. Take advantage of the free Park City buses and the free Sundance bus shuttles with routes just for the Festival. Here is a Sunndance Interactive Map to show you theatres, venues, box offices, available parking areas and shuttle route loops. And don’t try to park in business lots like the grocery store and think you can leave it there while you’re out festivaling.  There will be people watching for this and you may get a ticket and/or towed.

What Celebs are Gonna Be There?

I know we’re supposed to be focused on film, or this year’s theme: “Look Again,” at the films that is and not the celebrities and glitz, but I know some of you still would like to know which celebrities are showing up, just for curiosity sake of course. Here they are and the movies they appear in: Kristen Dunst in “Bachelorette,” Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones’ in “Lay the Favorite,” Richard Gere and Susan Saradon’s in “Arbitrage,” Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro in  “Red Lights” and Julie Delpy and Chris Rock in “2 Days in New York,” Liv Tyler in  “Robot and Frank,” X-File co-stars David Duchovny in “Goats,”and Gillian Anderson in “Shadow Dancer” and director Spike Lee of “Red Hook Summer.” you can take a look at all the 2012 Sundance Films and Events here at the 2012 Sundance Online Film Guide.

If you can’t get tickets to any of the films you want, it’s still fun to just walk around Main Street.  You can check out some of the venues that everyone is allowed to attend without credentials (crowd permitting) and also a chance to collect some free sponsor goods – we got a whole set of Stella Artois glasses one year. And like I always say, this is a good time to go skiing or boarding ’cause there are more people in town watching films this week than are on the slopes. And even better yet, there’s lots of snow in the forecast… woo-hoooo!

Related Park City Utah Information:

• 2011 Sundance Film Festival
• 2010 Sundance Film Festival Tips
• 2010 Sundance Film Festival Registration

Park City Mountain Resort Events

December 15-18th: Eric Hays Memorial Slalom and Giant Slalom: USSA Sanctioned Alpine Open Giant Slalom and Slalom on the Payday Run

December 24th: Annual Torchlight Parade: Enjoy some free hot chocolate, cookies and then when it gets dark, watch the lighted parade down the mountain led by Santa.

The Canyons Resort

December 17th: Santa Skis Free Day: First 50 full-costume Santas get to ski or ride for free. Don’t try showing up with just a Santa hat or beard because it aint gonna cut it. All Santa or bust!

December 31st: New Years Eve Celebration: Free event on the Ski Beach with DJ and Fireworks.

Deer Valley Resort

December 30th: Deer Valley Torchlight Parade: Begins at 6pm or dusk on Big Stick run on Bald Eagle Mountain. Free hot cider and cookies.

Park City Events

December 14th: A Park City Holiday: 5:30-7:30pm Free cookies, hot chocolate, ice skating, face painting, performances and more at the Park City Ice Arena

December 19th: Park City Nutcracker: 5 & 7:30pm shows at Eccles Center. General Admission: $15 Adults, $10 Children

December 21st: Winter Solstice Electric Parade: 6pm on Main Street

There will be lots of other events going on throughout the rest of the month.  Check with the calendar page to view all ongoing, art, food, sports, outdoor and other events in Park City, Utah.

Related Park City Utah Information:

• Park City Utah Fourth of July Celebration
• Park City Utah Spring Skiing
• The Canyons Resort Season Pass Discounts Ends October 15th

If there are a group of you of more than eight people that would like to go on the tour together, you will need to make reservations at least three weeks in advance. If you are already in Park City and still want to go as a group, try dropping by on one of the less busy days (call ahead and ask) and if your group plus any other people who purchased tickets on that day for the tour do not exceed fifteen, they you may be able to go without the reservations. They would like you to arrive 10 minutes before the walking tour begins and suggest bringing water and sun protection via hat and/or sunscrren. There are no tours on July 4th and Labor Day. For additional information, call 435-649-7457, ext 107 or email tknoeller@parkcityhistory.org.

I would suggest allowing in your schedule for time to spend before or after the Park City Historic walking tour at the Museum. They have a lot of unique exhibits and hands-on fun activities for the kids.

Park City Historic Museum Information

Museum Hours

• Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am -7:00 pm
• Sunday: Noon – 6:00 pm
• Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas

Museum Admission

• Members: Free
• Adults: $10
• Children: $5 (age 7-17, Under 6 free)

Museum Location

528 Main Street / PO Box 555
Park City, UT 84060

Phone: 435.649.7457

The Park City Historic Museum is located across from the Public Transit Center, so you can catch a free inbound bus to the Transit Center, cross Swede Alley and enter the Museum from Main Street.

If you are driving, follow the signs to Park City’s Historic Main Street, then look up for the Bell Tower. Paid parking is available on Main Street between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm. Free parking with a 4-hour limit is available in Swede Alley parking lots (including right behind the Museum) and in the China Bridge Parking Structure (Levels 1-3) on Swede Alley. All-day, free parking is available on the roof of the China Bridge Parking Structure (accessible via Marsac Avenue). Here is the Park City Main Street Parking Map for Museum location and parking locations.

Park City Museum Website

Related Park City Utah Information:

• Park City Utah Fourth of July Celebration

The event continues with a jam-packed day of activities that should provide something for everyone. From flyfishing along with a gourmet lunch riverside with fine wines to mountain biking paired with lunch and yes, wine this is definitely an outdoor Park City, Utah event. Lots of wine seminars and paired activities will be plentiful during this Wine Classic. Make sure you take a look at all the event listings and sign up soon, some are already sold out. Follow the link at the bottom of this post to view all event details and to purchase tickets.

The Park City Food and Wine Classic winds up on Sunday with a morning revival High West Brunch. What better way to wrap up a great weekend than brunch at High West? Join us as we toast the conclusion to a wonderful weekend and bid one another farewell until next year’s Classic. Includes two adult breakfast beverages. High West Distillery, $45

Here’s a video from a couple years back to give you an idea of what the event is all about:

Park City Food and Wine Classic

2010 Participating Park City Restaurants in the Food & Wine Classic
Bangkok Thai On Main
Blind Dog Restaurant
Comunal Restaurant
Donovan’s Steak & Chop House
Easy Street Brasserie
Edible Wasatch
Forage Restaurant
Good Karma
Hapa Sushi Grill
Healing Palate /Jason Kiefer
High West Distillery
J. Wong’s Asian Bistro
Jean Louis
Jupiter Bowl
Kerrygold | Irish Dairy Board
Lugano Restaurant
Mercer Wine Ice Cream
Mustang
Paralel 88
Park City Private Chefs
Red Pine Cafe At The Canyons
Ruth’s Chris – Hotel Park City
Shabu
Sky Lodge
Sonora Grill
Spruce At Waldorf Astor Ia
Stein Eriksen Lodge
Sugar Buzz
Talisker On Main
The Bridge Cafe And Grill
The Cabin Restaurant
The Coper Onion
The Mountain Grill At Yarrow Hotel
Westgate Grill
Whole Foods
Yelow Snow Ice Cream
For more information, please go to the Park City Food & Wine Classic website. And don’t forget there are plenty of other Park City summer activities going on this season.

Related Park City Utah Information:

• The Canyons Ski Resort Spring Break and Spring Gruv
• Park City Utah Fourth of July Celebration

Starting at 7:30pm, The Canyons Resort will be having a free concert in the resort village followed by fireworks at 9:30pm. The Disco Drippers will be providing the live music. The venue will be open at 4pm if you want to set up your blankets and chairs early and grab a spot on the lawn. The Cabriolet and Frostwood lifts will be open from 4:00pm – 11:00pm.

The weekly Park Silly Sunday Market will be taking place in town on Saturday instead of Sunday to accomodate the 4th of July parade on Sunday. Sunday morning activities start early with the traditional pancake breakfast from 7am-10pm and 8am 5k Fun Run which benefits the Park City Ski Team. This is followed by the 4th of July Parade downtown starting at 11am.  There will be 85 floats in tow celebrating Park City’s history, from “Silver to Snow”. The parade starts at the top of Main Street to the 9th Street intersection, over to Park Avenue and continues to City Park.

Stick around after the parade for music, food and plenty of activities in City Park. From noon to 4pm at the music pavillion, free music from Park City Concerts will be given by Motherlode Canyon Band, The Codi Jordan Band and Tim Wray & Fat Paw among others. There will also be plenty of food and drink and vendor stands selling various items.

Then starting at dusk, ~9:30pm the ultimate fireworks display will begin. They will be shot off at the base of Park City Mountain Resort from the First Time parking lot. You will be able to view the fireworks from all over town, but ideal locations are from the Park City golf course as well as the Aerie and Boot Hill areas. The Holy Water Buffalo Band will be providing live music starting at 8pm at the Corner Store.

So lots to do and enjoy this weekend. Looks like the weather will be pleasant too with mostly sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday, highs in the low 70s.

Related Park City Utah Information:

• Park City Food and Wine Classic
• Park City December Events and Activities
• Park City Historic Walking Tours

Canyons Pond Skimming Contest

The Pond Skimming Contest is The Canyons’ most popular party and is the true indicator that spring has arrived. Contestants must dress in costume (the funkier the better) as they attempt to cross a 100-foot pond on skis or a snowboard. The pond and the excitement happen at mid-mountain just outside Red Pine Lodge. Must be 10 years of age or older to enter.

Schedule:
8:00am – 9:00am: Registration at Smokie’s
11:45am: Riders’ meeting at top of course (mandatory)
12:00pm: Contest start
12:00pm – 3:00pm: DJ Velvet spins tunes at the Pond
2:30pm: Awards Ceremony at the Pond
3:00pm: Live music by Big Head Todd & The Monsters in the Resort Village!

More info on The Canyons Pond Skimming Contest and registration

Canis Lupus Challenge

In the old days, it was called The Natural (natural halfpipe) and the James Bond trail (for resembling a banked bobsled run). Call it what you will. Canis Lupus is a 1/4 mile-long gulley that serves up banked walls, turn after turn and whoops that will throw you off track if you are not prepared. There will be a few banked slalom gates at the top, then a “not-so-straight shot to the finish.” Must be 10 years of age or older to enter.

Red Bull 1976 Games

The Canyons will be hosting a qualifying event for the Red Bull 1976 Games. Teams of four will compete for the glory and bragging rights of becoming the 1976 Games Champions. Competitions include Snowbladecross & Old School Air – all up at Red Pine Lodge area. Registration info to come…

Red Bull 1976 Games Event Schedule:
8:00am – 9:00am: Registration at Smokie’s
9:30am – 11:30am: Athlete Training
11:45am: Riders’ meeting at top of course (mandatory)
12:00pm: Snowbladecross start
1:00pm: Old School Air start
2:30pm: Awards Ceremony at venue

Then, hit up the Resort Village for a live concert by Robert Randolph & The Family Band at 3:00pm!

NOTE: No outside alcohol is allowed in for the spring concerts. But do not fret, they will have food and beverage options available in the Resort Village.

You can find out more about all the events, concerts and special lodging packages at the The Canyons Spring Gruv website. They are offering some great discount lodging packages with rates starting at $59.50. We can get some awesome snowstorms in March and April, so come on over, enjoy the snow, the fun events, free concerts and warmer temps!

Related Park City Utah Information:

• The Canyons Ski Resort Free Lift Tickets and Breakfast Lodging Package
• Free Lift Ticket and Snowboard Lesson at The Canyons Ski Resort
• Park City Utah Spring Skiing