The world-class offerings available at Deer Valley Resort are no doubt outstanding in the wintertime but the resort also features some amazing summertime activities as well.
Multiple times a week, the sounds of live music fills the air. From classical to country to rock and roll, the lineup of singers, songwriters and musicians who will entertain guests mountainside this summer are phenomenal.
The 2014 summer concert series performs at Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater and includes the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera’s Deer Valley Music Festival; the Park City Institute’s St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series; and the Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series presented by Mountain Town Music.
Headlining the music offerings is the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera’s Deer Valley Music Festival, now in its eleventh year at Deer Valley Resort. Performers such as Kenny Rogers, Mary Chapin Carpenter and even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir all join the Utah Symphony on-stage but other evenings are filled with instrumental features like the 1812 Overture with live cannon fire from Cannoneers of the Wasatch (who also played a role in the Star Spangled Banner opening the concert). Additional selections that evening also included Gershwin classics Rhapsody in Blue and selections from Porgy and Bess. Guest conductors and a surprise pianist made the night one to remember.
The St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series, presented by the Park City Institute, is also in its eleventh season of summer concerts. Five For Fighting and Vince Gill are just a few of the talented entertainers arriving throughout the summer as part of this series.
Finally, the free Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series, presented by Mountain Town Music, is a weekly staple of Park City’s social scene and highlights local musical acts every Wednesday night through August 27, from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Bringing some of the world’s best artists to fill up the nights at Deer Valley Resort is such an idyllic part of summer in the mountains,” said Coleen Reardon, director of marketing at Deer Valley Resort. “Our guests look forward to this and plan their vacations around these concert events year after year.”
All shows play rain or shine and are family-friendly. Dogs are not permitted.
This summer’s remaining performances include:
- July 30 Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series ~ Tony Holiday & The Velvetones
- July 31 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Kix Brooks
- August 1 Deer Valley Music Festival ~ Disney in Concert: Tale As Old As Time
- August 2 Deer Valley Music Festival ~ Super Diamond: The Neil Diamond Tribute
- August 3 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Muscle Shoals Live with Lisa Fischer
- August 6 Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series ~ Muddpuddle
- August 8 Deer Valley Music Festival ~ Mormon Tabernacle Choir with the Utah Symphony
- August 9 Deer Valley Music Festival ~ The Ben Folds Orchestral Experience
- August 13 Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series ~ Telluride Meltdown with Savor The Sun
- August 16 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Five for Fighting
- August 19 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Trampled By Turtles
- August 20 Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series ~ The Wasatch Jazz Project
- August 23 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Nashville Café
- August 27 Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series ~ Mokie Band
- August 30 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Outdoor Concert Series ~ Vince Gill and The Time Jumpers
Picnicing at the Concerts
Guests are welcome to bring picnics, blankets and chairs to all concerts. (VIP seating includes chairs.) But if prepping a basket full of your favorite food and drink is just too time-consuming, Deer Valley also features gourmet picnic baskets or bags filled with delicious epicurean items that, honestly, would be next to impossible to prepare at home given the quality and presentation of these offerings.
The gourmet picnic basket is available as a single basket for $45 or a double basket for $82. Dig into an antipasto platter of steamed artichokes, olives, house-cured salami and two kinds of tomatoes (fresh and roasted) alongside a cool aioli for dipping. Next tear into the freshly baked baguette spread with Deer Valley’s Artisan Meadowlark double cream brie. Save room for the entrée choices including a moist smoked salmon with dill caper aioli or a chilled petit fillet (cooked to medium rare) with caramelized onions and a tangy horseradish cream. (Honey-soy glazed tofu and tamari sesame marinated Asian noodles and vegetables is the vegetarian option.) Dessert selections include a delightful lemon pound cake slice and salted caramel chocolate brownie pop.
The gourmet picnic bag option comes in an insulated, reusable bag and offers a smaller selection of food. The bags are available as a single for $30 or double serving for $54. You’ll find them filled with two types of gourmet wraps including tandoori curry chicken salad and a roasted vegetable ratatouille along with a Ceasar salad, cheese and crackers, chips and cashew caramel popcorn for dessert.
There are also options for children ($30), single bags as well as gluten-free and vegan meals.
Orders must be placed and purchased by 5 p.m. the day prior to the event. Baskets and bags can be picked up after 6 p.m. next to the concession stand. Paper plates, napkins, plastic ware and moist towelettes come in each option so you need to bring nothing from home except your appetite.
Lodging Packages
If you want to make a mountain getaway out of your concert evening, Deer Valley and surrounding properties are offering lots of package deals during all Deer Valley Music Festival performances.
Stein Eriksen Lodge (starting at $300) is featuring a room, two VIP tickets and a shuttle to/from Deer Valley Music Festival.
The Chateaux Deer Valley (starting at $240) is offering a similar package including a room, two VIP concert tickets and complimentary shuttle.
Goldener Hirsch Inn ($169 per person) is offering the “Music in the Mountains” package valid for any Deer Valley Music Festival concert along with a gourmet picnic basket for two and two concert tickets in addition to a room. The next morning enjoy a continental breakfast in the Stube.
“Summer is such a great season here in Park City—the days are long, the air is cool and mild, and at night the stars fill the sky,” General Manager of Goldener Hirsch Inn Kelley Davidson explains. “Deer Valley’s concert series is an especially wonderful event. Simply spread out your blanket at Snow Park Lodge and relax with your gourmet picnic as you enjoy the world-class music—all before heading back to the European alpine luxury of the Goldener Hirsch Inn.”
Disclaimer: Deer Valley invited me to attend a summer concert performance. Opinions are my own.