Photos courtesy Historic Park City Alliance
Park City’s historic Main Street got the proverbial ball rolling on the Christmas holiday this past weekend with the opening of an interactive art exhibit called the “Snow Globe Stroll.”
The exhibit, sponsored by the Historic Park City Alliance – a non-profit membership organization comprised of merchants within Park City’s Historic business district, features nine life-sized, interactive snow globes located along Main Street now through Jan. 3, 2021.
First created in 1900 by Austrian inventor Erwin Perzy in an effort to improve the electric lightbulb, the snow globe has become a beloved, winter-themed toy that evokes all the whimsy and magic of the holiday season. This winter, Park City’s Snow Globe Stroll is set to evoke that cherished emblem of winter and gift-shop staple.
“We wanted to create an opportunity that celebrated the magic of Park City,” said Alison Kuhlow, executive director of the Historic Park City Alliance. “The combination of life-sized, interactive snow globes designed to represent all that makes Park City so special felt like the perfect way to celebrate the winter season in our charming mountain town.”
But don’t try to give these 6-foot-tall globes a shake! Instead, move closer to the globes and a motion sensor will activate the flurries and changing imagery. Each globe depicts a different aspect of Park City life including its silver-mining heritage, majestic local wildlife, popular winter and summer sports, and rich Olympic culture.
Guests are encouraged to visit both during the day and night since the globes light from within.
“While the Snow Globe Stroll was conceptualized before COVID-19’s spread in the United States, the format lends itself to today’s environment with COVID restrictions and precautions included in the exhibition,” added Kuhlow, who also noted that the globes are a contactless experience.
Visitors are asked to wear face coverings, as required by local and state laws, and to encourage others to follow general safety practices to reduce their exposure to COVID-19.
Globes have been strategically placed on Main Street’s sidewalks and are situated from the Town Lift up to the Wasatch Brew Pub, with one globe set near the path across from the Park City Transit Center on Swede Alley. A downloadable map details where each globe is located.
In addition to viewing the globes, event organizers have created several interactive experiences to participate in while enjoying the stroll and even from home:
- Word Scramble: Each snow globe hosts a secret letter (Note: Two globes have two letters!), which spell out the answer to a riddle. An online quiz is available to help guests identify what word they are trying to unscramble. The riddle is available online or through a QR code on the globes.
- Stroll from Home: Enjoy the magic remotely with a downloadable Snow Globe coloring page and follow #ParkCitySnowGlobes on Instagram.
- Santa Visits Main Street: A strolling Santa and his Elf will visit Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 2-6 p.m.
- Santa’s Mailbox: Special arrangements have been made to secure a drop-off site for letters to Santa Claus in Main Street! Drop letters in the Santa Mailbox at Schreurs Plaza, located between Bangkok Thai and Lund Gallery, by Dec. 24 to make sure they arrive at the North Pole in time.
- “Elves on the Street”: Participating merchants will host Main Street’s version of “Elf on a Shelf” with oversized elf dolls Snowy and Jolly, who will partake in holiday antics beginning Nov. 28. The elves, which can be seen from the street, are scheduled to visit a different merchant each day. Follow along on Instagram to see their mischief from the previous day or find them for yourself and share a photo.
- Stroll and Stay: Book a three-night stay (or longer) between Nov. 28 and Dec. 23 and get 10-percent off plus a $300 Delta Airlines gift card. Visit com for details.
- Stroll and Share: Post pictures of your favorite globes on social media with the tag #ParkCitySnowGlobes to win Snow Globe Stroll merchandise, gift certificates to local restaurants and more.
- Stroll and Shop: Visit Main Street’s more than 200 boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Select merchants will offer official Snow Globe Stroll merchandise for sale.
- Stroll and Play: Merchant activations, specials and promotions coming soon.
The Snow Globe Stroll is supported by the Summit County Restaurant Tax Grant, the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau and Park City Municipal Corporation.
