School is out for summer, and after nine-plus months in the classroom, parents are ready to find new adventures to keep children engaged, learning, and happy during summer break. Fortunately, the Park City area is filled with cultural and educational opportunities to supplement hours frolicking in the sun.
Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
An extension of Utah State University, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter is a 1,200-acre educational center and nature preserve that provides research-based programs and resources. Office manager Emma Lowe describes a few family-oriented activities. “Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter is a great place for families to come and use their imagination and connect with nature. Between our weekly Sunday craft, summer camps, and traveling exhibitions, there are so many ways for kids to learn about nature.”
In addition to ongoing programs, special family activities are lined up for 2025. “In addition to the EcoCenter’s open hours, our visitor experience team is planning a butterfly field trip, mud day, and firefly open house this summer,” Lowe continues. “For the fall, they’re working to create our own exhibition called ‘Wetland Supermarket’—kids will be able to dress up as an animal in our local wetland ecosystem, shop around for the resources they need, check out customers at the register, and more.”
Utah Olympic Park
The Utah Olympic Park is one of three Utah Olympic Legacy locations. It’s a recreation hub, a current training facility for Olympic athletes, and the home of the Alf Engen Ski Museum. “Utah Olympic Park is a great recreation choice for families because we have options for everyone in the family, from grandparents to grandkids,” says Marketing and Media Production Manager Kole Nordmann. “If you’re not as adventurous, you can take a tour of our facility or take a scenic chairlift ride. For the more adventurous family members, we have over a dozen adventure activities. Ranging from adventure ropes courses, ziplines, and extreme tubing to our most thrilling activity—the summer bobsled experience.”
The Flying Aces Allstars Freestyle Shows are family-friendly evening entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. It’s an exhilarating opportunity to watch professional skiers launch off the massive aerial jumps while doing acrobatic feats and landing in a pool of water.
Egyptian Theatre
The Egyptian Theatre holds 125 years of performance arts history and is Park City’s oldest venue. The Egyptians’ latest official addition came in 2016 with YouTheatre, a tuition-free program. “Every child is scholarship-based. There are no dollar signs to hold anyone back,” Egyptian Theatre Director of Operations Jenn Silva explains of the YouTheatre programming. “We do stage makeup and music video classes, how to audition, and musical theater. The most popular class right now is Dungeons and Dragons.”
All youth 17 and under can attend YouTheatre performances at no cost. “There’s a show every weekend on the Egyptian Theatre stage and even more options for families with all of the shows performed in our Egyptian Studios Black Box theatre, the home of the Egyptian YouTheatre,” says YouTheatre’s Director of Education and Media, Amy Livingston. “We are incredibly excited for our Egyptian YouTheatre Mainstage production of Roald Dahl’s ’The BFG.’ This is the one show a year our incredible YouTheatre students get to perform on the main Egyptian stage. This production is a completely professional experience for our students and audience members, led by professional directors, designers, and technicians. These students have to audition to be a part of this production, and they’ve earned their roles. This production will bring ’The BFG’ to life with large-scale puppets.”
The Ideal Playhouse and The Avon Theater
Heber’s historic Main Street now has two reimagined and restored family entertainment venues, operated by Heber Valley Entertainment: The Ideal Playhouse and The Avon Theater. Founder Steve Anderson explains the history of the Ideal Playhouse. “The Ideal Theater has been on Heber’s Main Street since 1914. The theater went through a major renovation in 2024.” Since the Ideal Playhouse re-opened, it has staged dozens of musical theater performances, concerts, cultural celebrations, and movies.
“The Ideal Playhouse offers family-friendly local entertainment, with specific programming for adults and children. We offer a variety of choices, from classic movie westerns for the ol’ timers to the biggest Broadway musicals live on stage,” Anderson says. He’s looking forward to the production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and Roger Miller’s “Big River,” a musical based on “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
Summer 2025 marks the rebirth of the historic Avon Theater, complete with new seating and a new stage that will host live concerts. “It’s a playful, colorful, drive-in movie vibe that will make watching movies and music concerts here a unique, one-of-a-kind experience unlike anywhere else in the country,” Anderson explains. “Built in 1948, the theater, with its big blue AVON sign, has been a mainstay in Heber City’s historic district for 75 years. We hope the community will enjoy this new iteration of a classic, as we celebrate the theater’s historic 1950s vibe with our new indoor/outdoor atmosphere.”
The re-visioned theater will show new movies and welcome touring tribute bands covering Huey Lewis and the News, Olivia Newton John and Grease, Frank Sinatra, and The Who.
