Mountain Melodies
An array of musical festivals has Park City tapping its toes all summer long.
Photography: Courtesy of Deer Valley Resort
Music is as omnipresent as sunshine during Park City’s summer. Once the snow melts, a vibrant and virtually nonstop soundtrack is unleashed on the town. From wandering market minstrels to big-name stars to longtime area festivals, the music scene is hopping from late June through early fall.
The premier role is played by free outdoor concerts. The Frontier Bank Community Concert Series, held on Wednesdays from 6 to
8 p.m. at Deer Valley Resort’s Outdoor Amphitheater (deervalley.com), features longtime local performers such as Motherlode Canyon Band (starring the town’s mayor). Picnics and coolers are welcome weekly from June 23 to September 1, although dogs are not. On Saturdays from July 7 to August 28, The Canyons hosts a similarly popular series at its outdoor stage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. (thecanyons.com). Past performers have ranged from Sam Bush to Burning Spear. Pint-size concertgoers will love the Cabriolet ride up; coolers and picnics are permitted.
Park City institution Mountain Town Music presents a Wednesday and Saturday series of intimate shows in Peoa’s picturesque Wooden Shoe Park on Friday nights from July 2 to August 20, as well as entertainment on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Miners’ Park on Main Street, from June 26 to August 27 (mountaintownmusic.org). A newcomer to the free concert scene, Silver Star presents local performers Thursday evenings on its slopeside deck from 6 to 9 p.m. and a barbecue special served up by Silver Star Café (silverstarskiandsport.com).
Also on Thursday nights from July 8 through August, Newpark Town Center hosts local and national bands at its outdoor amphitheater, adjacent to the Swaner EcoCenter (newparktowncenter.com). Folks can enjoy the tunes from the patios of neighboring eateries (Maxwell’s or Good Thymes American Bistro) or bring their own picnics. Most concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m. As casually welcoming as these free evenings are, they’re accompanied by big shows in a variety of genres that require advance planning—as in tickets.
In its sixth summer season, Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley Music Festival delivers whimsical as well as rockin’ shows at the resort’s Outdoor Amphitheater (deervalleymusicfestival.org).
This summer’s lineup includes country star Randy Travis and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. For families, the July 23 “Disney in Concert” show should strike a chord, while rock fans will revel in the festival’s closing act, featuring the Utah Symphony and the music of
Led Zeppelin on August 14.
The Big Stars, Bright Nights concert series also calls Deer Valley home during summer (ecclescenter.org). In the past, Park City Performing Arts Foundation has welcomed everyone from Willie Nelson to Pink Martini to the outdoor stage. Now in its seventh summer, the large-scale series has an eclectic lineup of accomplished artists and rising stars. For both the Deer Valley Music Festival and Big Stars, Bright Nights concerts, shows are held rain or shine. Picnics, blankets and low-to-theground (i.e., a basketball should not be able to roll under them) chairs are permitted.
If you don’t make these events, live music accompanies almost every outdoor summer happening in town. Catch tunes and eats at Savor the Summit in June; sip wine and take in live music at July’s Park City Food and Wine Classic; and enjoy art in all its forms at the August Kimball Arts Festival. In Park City, the hills really are alive with the sound of music—all summer long.
Your comments may be edited for brevity and foul language.