PARK CITY Spotlights The Arts

Myriad talented artists color historic Main Street during the 43rd annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival on August 3-5.

The best kept secret about ski towns like Park City is their vibrant summer scene when a wash of green forests, cobalt blue skies, and puffy sunlit clouds fill the canvas. Park City bustles with locals and visitors engaged in sporty activities like mountain-biking the town’s 400 miles of trails, alpine hiking, trout fishing on the Provo, zip lining and more. The former mining town is also a hotbed of culture with its Sundance Film Festival screening series, outdoor concert series, theater, symphonies and galleries.  Park City also boasts a thriving year-round arts scene that celebrates local and international talent, particularly at its annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival each August.

In 1976, Bill Kimball, whose family’s history in Park City stretches back into the 1800s, decided to transform a dilapidated garage off Main Street into a cultural hub and nonprofit center for the visual arts. That same year he shared his dreams about the role the Kimball Art Center might play for future generations. He wrote, “I hope the art center will enable them to fulfill themselves and enrich their lives beyond the necessity to make a living. Park City’s first phase was the opening of the mines; the second was the beginning of the resort. Perhaps the third phase will be that the center can provide the opportunity for each person to expand his interest in the arts.”  Hell ya, Mr. Kimball.

Today, the Kimball Arts Center hosts world-class events and exhibits year around and its annual Arts Festival grows each summer, now attracting 55,000 visitors from around the country. The three-day event offers a multi-sensory artistic experience featuring 220 artists from North American.  In addition to exhibits of ceramics, jewelry, paintings, mix media, glasswork, woodworking, sculpture, metal work and photography, Main Street is also infused with live music, chalk art demos, kids’ activities, wine tastings, and beer gardens. Friday night kicks off with the Utah Artisan tasting featuring six, handcraft small producers on site to share gourmets bites.  On Saturday, fifteen cars from the Intermountain Porsche Concours d’Elegance will add more visual excitement to the scene.

After the daytime art experience, there’s plenty to do.  The Festival After Dark scene includes a free Saturday night concert at the Canyons  Resort with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at 6pm, or hit the Deer Valley Ampitheater for the Earth, Wind and Fire with the Utah Symphony ay 730pm.  There’s also comedy at the Egyptian Theater and a free film screening of Bones Brigade, a documentary presented by the 2011 Sundance Institute Outdoor Screening Series on Saturday in Park City’s City Park, at 8:45 PM (at dusk). Finally, check out the St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Concert Series with Roger Hodgson, the legendary voice of Supertramp on Sunday, August 5th, 7pm.  Arts Fest wristband wearers will receive 50% off tickets to the Rodger Hodgson show.

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival runs Friday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 5th.  Weekend passes are a mere $10 for adults; $5 for children & students, and kids under 5 are free.

Need a place to stay?

Check out The Montage Deer Valley, St. Regis Deer Valley or call L’espri (435.645.9696) to book a room or private condo.