Despite the high hopes carried in on the flakes of the first storm of the season, the dearth of snow and warm temperatures has left Park City looking unseasonably brown.
But that can’t dampen the spirits our little mountain town, where holiday festivities go on, with or without the cold white stuff. Each year, the spirit of the season prevails, with community events scheduled from the very beginning of the month, straight through to the New Year.
To make Christmas in Park City even more jolly, the town is offering free parking on Main Street from Thanksgiving through Dec. 21, though time limits are enforced. I’m going to take advantage of a meter-free Main Street when I take my kids to Old Town to watch carolers and other street entertainers transform our already quaint shopping district into a true Rockwellian scene on Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 22, and from 3 – 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 15.
While we’re there, I’ll be sure to vote for our favorite decorations among the Main Street Merchants’ Holiday Window Displays, hoping to get my hands on one of the eight $50 Historic Park City Gift Cards up for grabs!
And, since this is a town where we never leave our four-legged friends behind, we’ll bring our most furry-faced family member to the Miners Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 8, where Friends of Animals is hosting a chance for pets to get their own Santa pics from 1 – 3:30 p.m. at Miners Park.
On Saturday, Dec. 15, we’ll be bundling up our babes for Santa’s arrival, Park City-style, via the Town Lift, at 5:30 p.m. Father Christmas will be joined by Rudolph and the other reindeer, while carolers set the mood and everyone enjoys hot chocolate and holiday treats. That night, we grown-ups get a chance to revel with a whole bevy of Santas during the Santa Pub Crawl. Creative costumes are encouraged for this highly-anticipated locals’ event.
Finally, Disneyland’s got nothing on Park City when our very own Winter Solstice Electric Parade takes to Main Street on Friday, Dec. 21 – the shortest day of the year. Starting at 6 p.m., we’re looking forward witnessing this mobile demonstration of holiday sprit, where contestants vie for top prizes in categories like “Power to Make it Happen,” “Park City Style,” and the Best of Show “Mayor’s Award.”
Though our eternal ski-town optimism knows there will eventually be snow, we’re still able to celebrate the season in a variety of ways, with offerings for all ages, and the knowledge that this community is about just that – community. It’s the very reason each of us has chosen to live in Park City in the first place.
*Photos courtesy of Historic Park City Alliance
