On many Park City evenings, a stage somewhere is lighting up — actors orate, guitars ring, sopranos sing, a crowd applauds.
While free public transit, superb dining, and world-class skiing (that keeps getting better) rate highly among the visitor-supported amenities we all get to enjoy, our top-tier performance venues deserve applause, too.
Visitors to Summit County accelerate the demand for live music, theater and other performances, from music festivals and fully staged productions to solo artists and buskers. Visitors eagerly seek après ski (or hike or bike) entertainment, and Park City responds with our characteristic positive vibes and good taste.
Take the iconic Egyptian Theatre. Alongside long-time local favorites like the “Park City Follies” and the holiday “Singalong,” the Egyptian hosts nationally known artists — from Marc Broussard (tomorrow night!) to 10,000 Maniacs, and their theatrical productions have something for everyone.
The Egyptian’s Cristina Aguirre tells us that about 60 percent of theatre patrons are visitors.
“Thirty percent come from out of state, and 30 percent from across Utah,” she said. “They’re absolutely critical to our success.”
Visitors’ spending power allows the Egyptian and other local venues to continue booking nationally known performers, who in turn attract visitors and elevate our reputation as a small mountain town with big city culture.
The artists themselves often fall for us. As Lisl Wangermann of Park City Opera said of visiting performers at this summer’s Barber of Seville, “They could not stop raving about this amazing place.”
The economic impact can’t be overlooked. According to a 2023 study by the Arts Council of Park City and Summit County, arts and culture generate roughly $175 million in annual economic impact and supports more than 2,100 jobs, from artists to creative businesses to skilled technical personnel.
Given our economic base, public investment in performance facilities makes sense, enhancing the experience for locals and visitors.
At this year’s Song Summit, City Park Stage hosted excellent music while attendees enjoyed wellness sessions in the park and workshops at Santy Auditorium. All of these are publicly owned. Song Summit founder Ben Anderson said about 40 percent of attendees travel from out of state, a solid boost to our mid-August economy.
Meanwhile, privately owned venues like the Egyptian and Deer Valley Snow Park Amphitheater double as community assets and visitor hubs. At the amphitheater, Concerts on the Slopes brought headliners such as Clint Black, UB40, and Blues Traveler this year, while the Deer Valley Music Festival — the Utah Symphony’s summer home for more than 20 years — always draws amphitheater crowds for both classical and popular music under the stars.
Elsewhere around town, boutique performance spaces like the Marquis, Premier and hotel and restaurant patios are unique options for an eclectic array of performers and performances.
Those glorious summer evenings on the amphitheater grass — with music, a beverage, a picnic — remind us how fortunate we are. Few towns of any size can boast such a mix of natural beauty, performance infrastructure and cultural depth, sustained by a combination of visitors, performers, and community support.
Cristina Aguirre of the Egyptian summed it up when she said, “Thanks to visitor support, we will continue to present world-class programming.”
And we all get to share in that magic. As summer takes its final bow and the first flurries begin to fall, I’m filled with gratitude for the businesses, organizations, and people who made our town shine so brightly this season — and for the spirit that keeps Park City glowing all year long.
Jennifer Wesselhoff is the president and CEO of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.