Unless you are tight with some influential key grip’s nephew, navigating the Sundance Film Festival can be difficult. Without those sweet, sweet insider hookups, you’ll likely be stuck in line outside the exclusive screenings and hot, popup clubs Sundance is famous for. By following these tips, even those of us outside the Hollywood power vacuum can enjoy the spoils of Park City’s Biggest Little Film Festival.
WHAT DO I EAT?
Let’s be blunt: Stay away from Main Street! Many restaurants in the center of the whirlwind are commandeered for private events or have waiting lines measured in eons. Many great nearby options won’t be inundated, like Twisted Fern’s chic natural cuisine in the Snow Creek Shopping Center or Sammy’s Bistro’s high-class comfort food in Prospector. Even easier is to pick up some Italian food at Bartolos in Kimball Junction or elevated Mexican fare at Billy Blanco’s in Pinebrook before you head to the center of town.
WHERE DO I DRINK?
Twenty-dollar cover charges at dive bars are borderline offensive, especially when you can waltz in for free the other 50 weeks a year. The Boneyard on S.R. 248 has the same idealized local/visitor melting pot vibe as its Main Street analog, No Name Saloon, and there’s a mirror image of O’Shucks Bar and Grill—schooners, peanuts and all—in Pinebrook.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Do not drive into the heart of Sundance. The roads are a madhouse. Parking is rare and expensive. Park City’s already robust bus system transforms into a well-oiled mass transit machine that leaves major metropolitan areas envious. Park at the new Ecker Hill Park & Ride, and catch High Valley Transit from Kimball Junction and enjoy the ride. The army of patient Sundance volunteers will help you get to where you’re going.
WHAT MOVIES DO I WATCH?
Unless you bought a ticket package long before reading this article, you’re going to have to use the Sundance Film Festival app to get on the waitlist for a screening. It can still be difficult to get into high-demand screenings, but the app is a must for anyone planning on catching a film at Sundance. Shoot for late-night screenings—you’d be shocked how many people might no-show after a few cocktails—or catch a film at the Festival’s excellent venues in Salt Lake City, like the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center or the Broadway Centre Cinema.
Looking to involve the kids in your Sundance experience? Here are some family-friendly screenings to attend in 2025.
Get the latest on arts and entertainment in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your guide to the best of life in Utah.
