This message is published in the Park Record here.
As we wrap up the closing weekend of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival – the 41st hosted here in Park City – I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make this year’s event a success. For the past ten days, our mountain town has again been in the spotlight, and we delivered an award-worthy performance in our supporting role. From resident volunteers and City team members to our first responders and local merchants, we came together to create that unmistakable Park City magic.
Not a believer in magic? Just take a look at the local, regional, and national coverage of this year’s Festival – it speaks for itself.
This year, Chief Carpenter, in consultation with partner law enforcement organizations, made the necessary decision to pedestrianize Main Street during the Festival – a major public safety call made just days before opening night. While the last-minute change brought challenges, especially for our local businesses and Old Town residents, the response from festivalgoers was overwhelmingly positive. The Historic Park City Alliance (HPCA) and the Park City Chamber even pulled live entertainment out of their hats when we needed it!
A huge thank you to Main Street businesses for adapting to this change and turning a challenge into an opportunity. Your collective flexibility and generosity were key to keeping the festival safe while showcasing all that Main Street has to offer. I was especially touched to hear about Mumbai House and how they provided 80 meals to our police and essential personnel during the long, stressful hours of opening weekend – a testament to the community spirit that makes Park City exceptional.
To our residents who volunteer, support, and attend the festival every year: I know the influx of visitors and the accompanying changes can at times be disruptive to your daily lives. And trust me – if I were an actual magician, I’d make all traffic disappear. Your patience and hospitality do not go unnoticed. It’s your warm welcome that leaves a lasting impression on our guests and reaffirms, year after year, that we are the best mountain hosts around.
As anyone who knows me will tell you, I never shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: the future of Sundance in Park City is not guaranteed. While that uncertainty presents challenges, it also reminds us of the importance of working together to navigate what lies ahead. Our magic isn’t tied to one event or one moment – it’s rooted in strong community connection.
That means continuing to support our local businesses, embracing smart solutions to our evolving needs, and finding ways to ensure Park City remains a one-of-a-kind home for arts and culture. In this new year, let’s commit to preparing for our future together and using our connectedness as a strength. Let’s challenge each other to be bold in our thinking and open to big ideas and new approaches.
Our future is bright.
Mayor Nann Worel