Every summer, Park City’s historic Main Street transforms into a celebration of local arts and culture. The Park Silly Sunday Market is a street festival that brings together residents and visitors for an unforgettable weekend experience on select Sundays.
If you’re a newcomer expecting a traditional farmers market, adjust your expectations and get ready for a refreshing gathering. Rather than bins of fresh produce and farm vegetables, this event captures a unique artisan experience. Attendees spend their Sundays browsing beautifully handcrafted goods, sampling gourmet street food, and soaking up the lively atmosphere created by local musicians and performers, with partners like Mountain Town Music, Top Shelf, and Nuzzles and Co.
Dates:
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 12, 19, August 30
September 6, 13, 20, 27
Market Hours:
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Rain or shine
Running a massive summer-long event requires serious dedication and a love for the community. Executive Director Kate McChesney and Director of Operations and Logistics Michelle McDonald have skillfully guided the market for more than a decade. Their commitment ensures the festival remains welcoming, inclusive, and local.
Under their leadership, the street festival has experienced incredible growth. What began in 2007 as a modest neighborhood setup with just 35 booths has grown into an impressive roster of 200 vendors each market day, drawing hundreds of enthusiastic attendees to Park City.
Beyond the entertainment and shopping, the market serves as an incubator for small businesses. Entrepreneurs have an opportunity to present their products to a large audience in a low-risk environment. This allows them to gather immediate feedback from real customers and refine their business models. Many popular brick-and-mortar restaurants and shops throughout Park City can trace their humble beginnings right back to a Park Silly booth.
The entrepreneurial adventure extends to the community’s youth, too. The innovative “KID-trepreneur” initiative provides highly discounted booth spaces for young residents. This special program allows kids to showcase their creativity, practice customer service, and learn the basics of running a business in a supportive environment.
“We want to continue to be the place where our community, neighbors, and visitors gather on a Silly Sunday, hang out, and enjoy the community and the beautiful place we live in,” McDonald says. “We also want to be a place that artists and entrepreneurs can turn to as an opportunity to foster and test out their ideas.”
Leading the Way in Sustainability
The Park Silly Sunday Market operates with rigorous zero-waste sustainability practices, setting a remarkable standard for large-scale outdoor events that ultimately protects the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Almost nothing from the festival ends up in a landfill. All food vendors are required to use biodegradable products, and single-use plastic is strictly prohibited. Some vendors even hand out pasta straws instead of plastic ones. Bottled water is not sold on-site, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers and take advantage of the free water refill stations scattered throughout the event.
“Everything within our ‘walls’ as far as trash, we haul it out,” McChesney explains. “We have recycling and compost, zero bottled water, a bike valet, and even our food vendors have to be biodegradable.”
Plan Your Visit to Main Street
Getting to the festivities is easy, provided you know the local tips. To avoid traffic and limited paid spaces near Old Town, the most convenient option is to utilize the free parking at Park City High School. From the school parking lot, you can hop on a complimentary city bus that drops you right at the center of the action.
If you want to enjoy the fresh mountain air even longer, consider leaving the car behind entirely. The market offers a free bike valet service, making it easy to cycle straight to Main Street without worrying about securing your bicycle.
For those who prefer to park closer, there is limited paid parking available in the China Bridge parking structure and throughout the Old Town area. Be sure to carefully read all posted signs, as parking fees, time limits, and residential permit requirements are strictly enforced by the city. Planning ahead and following these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and stress-free visit to the area.
Whether you want to support emerging local artists, enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon with neighbors, or simply grab a bite of delicious local fare, the Park Silly Sunday Market is the perfect weekend destination for all things fun.
For more information, visit the official Park Silly Sunday Market website.
