Top 5 Summer Festivals and Events in Park City
Summer in Park City Can be Just as Fun as Winter
Although wintertime is usually Park City’s busiest season for travelers and tourists, there’s plenty of fun to be had in this mountain town during the warmer months, especially once the festival season rolls around.
Throughout the summer, Park City stages a number of concerts, markets, art festivals, and other one-of-a-kind neighborhood events, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of mountain peaks and wildflower blooms. Next time you’re taking a summer vacation to Park City, check out one of our five favorite summer festivals and events to make your time even more magical.
#1: Park Silly Sunday Market
Sundays during summertime, downtown Park City comes alive with the Park Silly Sunday Market. This open-air market and street festival is hosted by a nonprofit charity of the same name, and its goal is to not only give small businesses a chance to thrive, but also to encourage the community to come together and support one another. With a number of special activities put on each Sunday including programs for the kids, the Park Silly Sunday Market is fun for the whole family.
Since its inception 16 years ago, the Park Silly Market has gained over 2 million attendees, giving a number of artists, farmers, chefs, and other small businesspeople the chance to showcase and sell their wares while interacting with the townspeople and their larger community. Best of all, this event costs nothing to attend.
#2: Savor the Summit
Looking for a unique way to experience Park City’s Historic Main Street? Savor the Summit is Park City’s largest outdoor dinner party, put on each year by the Park City Restaurant Association, and its arrival denotes the beginning of the summer event and festival season.
Created to bring more awareness to the restaurants in the area during the slower season, this foodie celebration gives 2,500 guests the opportunity to experience the best of Park City dining as the sun sets over the Wasatch Mountains. Long tables are set up on Main Street for visitors to enjoy their meal “al fresco”, or in the open air, with each restaurant providing a different menu and alcohol pairing to go along with your meal. In addition, live music and performers wander the streets while you dine, making this event all the more entertaining. If you’re interested in participating, contact the restaurant of your choice to make a reservation, as there are no online tickets sold for this event.
#3: Fourth of July Celebration
If you’re a fan of pancakes and patriotism, you’ll fall in love with Park City’s Fourth of July festivities.
Each summer, the town puts on all the razzle-dazzle for a packed day full of events to commemorate the founding of our nation, starting with a pancake breakfast at City Park that begins at 7am sharp. At 8am, the Cole Sport Fun Run 5k begins, followed at 11am by a parade down Main Street. The fun doesn’t stop there, however, as the rest of the day is marked by activities for the kids, rugby games, a volleyball tournament, and live musical performances. End your day with fireworks at Park City Mountain, along with a BBQ that the whole town attends.
#4: Kimball Arts Festival
Every August, over 50,000 attendees converge on Park City’s Main Street for three days of the Kimball Arts Festival, known as one of the top art festivals in the country. Around 1,000 people from around the nation apply each year, but only 200 artists are picked by a blind jury to showcase their works.
Aside from seeing and buying art, festivalgoers are urged to partake in a variety of art experiences throughout the weekend, such as artist demonstrations guided by Kimball Art Center educators, live musical performances, classes on art and other educational programs. There’s also a ton of delicious craft beers, specialty cocktails, and unique food for festivalgoers to enjoy during this three-day celebration of art in Park City.
#5: Miner’s Day Celebration
Better known as Labor Day throughout the rest of the country, Miner’s Day in Park City is a one-of-a-kind event that celebrates the historic mining heritage of the town with a number of fun community activities.
The day begins with a 5k Fun Run, followed by a silly but charitable event sponsored by the Park City Rotary Club called The Running of the Balls. Watch as over 10,000 yellow golf balls are set off down a track setup on Main Street, with prizes being awarded to participants whose balls roll down the hill the fastest. After that, the Miner’s Day parade begins, with community floats rolling down Main Street. Once the parade ends, head to City Park for children’s activities, live musical performances, and mining demonstrations, along with a variety of food trucks to satisfy your appetite after a long day of celebrating the mining heritage of Park City.
Find Even More Ways to Enjoy Park City
Park City is home to more fun than you’d expect from a ski town, especially if you decide to visit for any of the summer festivals and events we’ve listed above. From pancake breakfasts on the Fourth of July to the Running of the Balls on Miner’s Day, there’s a quirkiness to Park City that many outsiders may not see if they just come to ski and snowboard.
While you’re in town, be sure to check out some of our favorite fine dining restaurants to top off your summer festival season. For those who are coming during the wintertime, take a look at our list of the best winter hiking trails in the Park City area.