Surprise Creative Activations During Park City Main Street’s Car-Free Sunday

Car-Free Sunday on Main Street Park City has brought a vibrancy to the downtown area, especially after the COVID-19 shutdown. Not only do businesses set up on Main Street to expand their product and services to the outside crowds, there are a number of creative activations that have taken place over the last few months that enrich and enliven the Car-Free Sunday atmosphere and encourage the community to come out to support local business. 

This past Sunday October 18th, the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County partnered with the Utah Symphony Trombone Quartet, Mountain Town Music, and Ballet West to activate a live music pop-up performance and dance performance on Main Street. 

The afternoon began with a dance performance at the corner of Heber and Main Street. Dancers Jazz Bynum, Chelsea Keefer and Hadriel Diniz presented on behalf of Ballet West. The performance included a duet between Jazz Bynumm and Chelsea Keefer, choreographed by Katyln Addison, a First Soloist in Ballet West. Bynum of Ballet West II expresses, “It means a lot to be able to dance right now. We weren’t able to finish performing our last season, so it feels like home to be able to come back and move our bodies again, especially with a live audience.”

Also featured in the pop-up performance, was a duet of Hadriel Diniz and Chelsea Keefer, choreographed by Keefer. “Dancing during COVID-19 is all about adapting and finding new spaces to move to remain active, creative and to stay connected.” says Keffer, Soloist in Ballet West. Hadriel Diniz, First Soloist in Ballet West adds, “It’s very rewarding to show our art on the street for people to see and enjoy. It’s great to get back to it after COVID.” The pop-up performance provided the local community access to high caliber ballet in surprise locations, and allowed dancers an outlet to perform after many months without an audience.  

Later in the afternoon, Utah Symphony’s Principal Trombone Mark Davidson, along with three other musicians and the help of Mountain Town Music, took to the same street corner to perform an outdoor pop up concert. 

Due to restrictions associated with Covid-19, this summer’s six-week, 19-concert Deer Valley® Music Festival were postponed in May. This smaller pop-up performance with the Utah Symphony Deer Valley Music Festival, is a way that the local community can still experience live music and performance from the symphony.

“Bringing this Utah Symphony chamber ensemble to Main Street is a way for Utah Symphony to musically express our gratitude to the incredible arts supporters and to Park City for being the home of the Deer Valley® Music Festival for nearly 20 years,” said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera President and CEO Steven Brosvik. “We want to bring the joy, life, and excitement of classical music back to Park City and do so in a way that is safe and fun for the community. We are excited to continue our partnerships with two incredible local arts advocacy groups that help bring the experience of live music to the residents of Park City.”

During Sunday’s performance, the Utah Symphony Trombone Quartet performed two 30-min sets. “We didn’t get to do the Deer Valley Music Festival this Summer which was a huge bummer to all of us, so it’s great to get back out there play live music, to have people hear it, and reconnect with our audience.” says Sam Elliot, Associate Principal Trombone for the Utah Symphony. 

We’re so grateful for our local creative community and their ability to adapt to continue to perform, to create vibrancy and lift people’s spirits in a time where we have been longing for live music and performance.