There’s no place like Park City to celebrate winter, and there is no place better to celebrate the Holidays on Main.
The town’s annual seasonal celebration, hosted by the Historic Park City Alliance, will officially open on Thanksgiving and will feature a snowglobe stroll, window decorating contests and Santa Claus arriving by the Town Lift. (See schedule below).
Everything begins with the annual Snow Globe stroll, which features lighted, larger-than-life snow globes that have been placed up and down the street, said Executive Director Ginger Wicks.
“We’re excited to bring it back this year because we’ve partnered with the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County,” she said. “They have helped coordinate seven locally based artists to create the designs and sculptures that are inside the globes.”
The Snow Globe Stroll is one of two strolls that Historic Park City Alliance has partnered “to some degree” with Canyons Village Management Association, according to Wicks.
“In a joint effort, the CVMA has a Gondola Stroll that is set up throughout Canyons Village, and those gondolas were also designed by local artists,” she said. “So you can start the stroll on Main Street and continue it at Canyons Village or vice versa. You can start the stroll at Canyons Village and then come up to Main Street.”
Scavenger hunts add to the strolls’ fun, Wicks said.
“There are hidden items within the designs,” she said. “Some have one and some have more, and people can visit our website, historicparkcity.com, click on the strolls’ information and download the information about the scavenger hunts.”
While the snow globes will display on Main Street through Jan. 3, the gondolas at Canyons Village will be on display throughout the winter season, Wicks said.
“Partnering with other organizations like the CVMA and the Arts Council speaks to our community and the collaboration that continues to raise support and everybody up,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve highlighted local artists to design the interior of the globes, and raising awareness to our arts and cultural community is something we’re proud of. And I think that says a lot about Park City and speaks to who Park City is collectively.”
The weekend after Thanksgiving continues on Nov. 30 with Small-Business Saturday on Nov. 30, Wicks said.
“We have a variety of small businesses that can always use community support, especially with the construction after this past spring and summer,” she said. “The collection of small and locally owned businesses on Main Street speaks to the uniqueness and character of Park City.”
Wicks enjoys shopping at those stores, especially during the holidays.
“I have a lot of people on my Christmas list who are hard to shop for, so having these unique and eclectic places on Main Street is a win for me as I go through that list,” she said. “I can find hidden treasures for people who are hard to shop for, and I can support these businesses in the community.”
Some of the businesses will participate in a Holiday Window Display contest that will run through Dec. 13, Wicks said.
“We provide a QR code that the shops can put on their windows, and if local residents, visitors and guests see a display that catches their eye as they are wandering Main Street, they can scan the code and cast their votes,” she said. “We have 15 participating businesses, so far, but we hope we’ll get more. There is no cost for them to participate, and they can sign up on our website.”
The contest will run through Dec. 13, and we’ll announce the top three winners on Dec. 14, according to Wicks.
“Even though the voting ends for the holiday window display, they’ll still be shown throughout the season,” she said. “We’re going to put ribbons on the winners so people can see who won.”
Saturday will also mark the official lighting of the holiday lights and tree, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wicks said.
“We plan on gathering at Miners Park where we will officially flip the switch,” she said with a laugh. “Park City Council member Ryan Dickey will be our official switch flipper.”
This year is the first time Park City will host a celebration to illuminate the lights, Wicks said.
“While we haven’t done this before, we thought it would be nice to drive people to Main Street and kick off the holiday season,” she said. “We thought it would be a good thing to introduce this as a long-standing event and maybe help families make it their own traditions.”
The night will also feature live musicians who will perform along the street, Wicks said.
“We are working with Mountain Town Music to program the music that will spread holiday cheer from noon to 7 p.m.,” she said.
Other Holidays on Main events include the Park City Santa Pub Crawl on Dec. 7 that collects new toys for the Christian Center of Park City’s Operation Hope program, Santa arriving to town on Dec. 21 via the Town Lift, the official lighting of the Grand Menorah to celebrate the start of Hanukkah on Dec. 25 and the Menorah Parade on Dec. 28, Wicks said.
“That rounds out the holiday season, if you can believe it,” she said. “We’re just trying to create a fun and vibrant holiday season that will attract local residents and visitors. If you look at the diversity of the holiday calendar, there is something for you no matter where you are in life. Main Street offers a lot for everybody, and while visitors and guests will be attracted to it, I hope local residents will come out and support the community as well.”
Wicks holds a special place in her heart for the holidays.
“For me it’s about making family memories,” she said. “Time flies by so fast these days, and it seems like we’re just rushing from one thing to another. So, to me the holidays are about slowing down, taking time and enjoying the moment with my kids.”
Holidays on Main 2024 Schedule
- Nov. 28-Jan. 3 — Snow Globe Stroll on Main Street and Gondola Stroll at Canyons Village
- Nov. 30 — The lighting of the lights, 5:30 p.m., Miners Park
- Nov. 30-Dec. 13 — Holiday Window Display Contest. Winners will be announced Dec. 14
- Dec. 7 — Park City Santa Pub Crawl, 6 p.m., Butchers Chop House and Main Street, facebook.com/ParkCitySantaPubCrawl
- Dec. 21 — Santa arrives via the Town Lift, 5 p.m., Town Lift Plaza
- Dec. 25 — Grand Menorah Lighting, 5:30 p.m., Miners Park
- Dec. 28 — Menorah Parade, 7 p.m., Main Street
For information, visit historicparkcityutah.com.