The Canyons Resort at Park City offers an annual free summer concert series, July through August. Every Saturday evening from 6-8:30 p.m., a guest performer or band entertains guests at the beautiful mountaintop resort area.

Although hundreds of chairs are provided, guests are also invited to bring blanket and lawn chairs to sit on the grassy areas surrounding the stage.  Outside coolers, lawn chairs, and food are permitted, making the evening a fun and free summer evening event.

Guests park in the lower parking lot and ride the Cabriolet lift to the upper dining, shopping and performance area. My kids thought that the lift ride was the best part of the entire evening. In fact, we “had” to go on the lift twice!  And, I have to admit, I enjoyed it, too. Although just a few minutes long, the aerial view of Park City was well worth taking a few pictures and waiting in the growing line of concert attendees to ride a second time.

After riding the Cabriolet lift to the main Canyons summit area, we set down our blanket and enjoyed the festive mood of the evening. Concert-goers laughed, danced with their kids, and visited as the band warmed up. Bring your own food and drinks for an entirely free evening, or buy kettle corn, yummy Italian sausages and sauerkraut, or hamburgers from the vendor stands located around the concert premise.

Two and a half hours was too long to stay for a concert with my young children, so we left after the first hour and just as the crowd was starting to warm up.  However, our two hours riding the lift, enjoying the scenery, eating treats, and watching the crowd and the beginning of the concert was so fun that we decided we will make it an annual tradition to return again next year for another show.

Dave March, event director for The Canyons, told me that the summer concert series draws in 3,000 to 5,000 visitors each weekend. The summer series is The Canyons resort’s way of saying thank you to the local and state-wide supporters of summer activities in Park City.  

The Canyons resort outdoor Summer Concert Series is a perfect date-night or, with the right concert, a great family activity under the stars on the mountaintop of beautiful Park City.

UPCOMING FREE SHOWS:

Take advantage of the remainder of the 2008 Summer Concert Series:

Aug. 9: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews; jazz and R/B, New Orleans; www.tromboneshorty.com

Aug. 16: South Austin Jug Band; progressive acoustic; www.southaustinjugband.com

Aug. 23: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; southern rock, blues, and soul; www.jasonisbell.com


MORE FREE CANYONS RESORT EVENTS

The Canyons resort offers hundreds of lodging options: hotel rooms, condominiums and suites. Although The Canyons primarily offers such paid activities as gondola-ride access to hiking and mountain biking, hot air ballooning, rafting, and golfing, The Canyons also provides a variety of activities and events FREE to the public, including hiking and biking trails, a Farmers Market held at the base of the Cabriolet lift every Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m., and the outdoor Summer Concert Series each Saturday night from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Visit www.thecanyons.com/events.html for more FREE events, including mountain bike racing’s most prestigious and highest paying North American tour, the Jeep King of the Mountain Series, Sept. 19-20.

IF YOU GO:

Take I-80 East to Exit #145 Kimball Junction / Park City. This exit is the main road that enters Park City and The Canyons. You will be on SR-224.Follow 224 for two miles from the exit and take a right at the stop light on to The Canyons Resort Drive.Continue a short distance up to The Canyons.

More info: www.thecanyons.com