7 Tips To “Sundance Like A Local”

Park City locals have coined their own term for enjoying the Sundance Film Festival, it’s a verb: “Sundancing.” As in “Where are you Sundancing this year?” We’ve put together a few suggestions for maximizing the Sundance experience, like locals do.

Enjoy the second week. Sure you may miss some star-gazing, but honestly, there are less crowds and the vibe is more casual during the second half of this event. And you’ll still find cast members and production crews that stick around to do the post-show audience Q&As. During the dates January 27 – 31, you’ll see some great movies and avoid the mad rush.

Waitlist for movies. Avoid the lines and register to waitlist for Sundance movies. Two hours before the scheduled screening for your selected film, check-in to receive your waitlist number. Then arrive 30 minutes before the movie starts to line up in numerical order. You can even adjust your account settings to “waitlist with a friend.” It’s just $15 cash for empty seats and there are typically a fair allotment of them, particularly during the second week.

Enjoy early morning shows (and afternoon slopes). Stop by a Sundance box office and try to score tickets for morning shows. The party crowd will still be in bed during the 8 AM viewings, so your chances are pretty good to score tickets for these lower demand showtimes. Then after lunch, take a few turns on the ski slopes while the rest of the Sundancers are just starting to migrate to their venues. The ski resorts are refreshingly less crowded during this event.

Participate without participating. There are so many other fun events taking place during Sundance that you can be part of the action without even seeing a movie. An evening stroll on Main Street is bound to reveal a “wanna-be star” or two. The people watching is phenomenal. There are lots of film panels, concerts, sponsor lounges and artistic installations, not to mention the offshoot events, like Slamdance Film Festival. Simply wander around Main Street and pop in to explore all the cool activities. Or, check out the daily Live@Sundance streaming events, from the comfort of your vacation rental.

Split lodging costs. Share a condo or private home with friends and your costs come down dramatically. Stay on the free town shuttle bus route so you don’t need a car and can avoid the parking fees. Dine in at your condo with goods purchased at the grocery stores, also on the free shuttle route. Park City Lodging, Inc. offers accommodations to suit every size group.

Pick up some hand and boot warmers. Fresh Market sells hand and boot warmers at the check-out stands. Pick up a supply of these before you queue up for your movie. Layers are also important. As well as water. There can be moderate winter temperatures during the day, but at night, be prepared for some cold temps. And be sure to stay hydrated at our higher, dryer elevation.

Take your food to go. Nosh in line to make the time pass quickly. Enjoy a tasty treat from these quick and delicious purveyors: if your viewing is in Prospector, check out El Chubasco for authentic Mexican food from their new take-out window; Java Cow & Ice Cream is handy for Main Street venues and they open before the first viewings in the morning. Kimball Junction show-goers can grab a quick panini at Cortona Italian Cafe.

Enjoy the fun of Sundance with these local’s tips. And to experience Park City like a local, stay in a vacation rental home from Park City Lodging, Inc.

The post 7 Tips To “Sundance Like A Local” appeared first on Park City Lodging.

Published on Monday, December 18, 2017