Sundance: Park City’s Pedestrian-Only Main Street Move Proves A Success With Attendees, But Possible Festival Relocation Sees Boulder Flexing Its Muscle

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: No final decision has been made on whether the Sundance Film Festival will stay in Utah or move to either Boulder, CO or Cincinnati in 2027, but for attendees gathering this year a big change on Park City’s Main Street has received a full thumbs-up so far. “I love it, bumping into people I haven’t see in ages, not feeling so congested,” one filmmaker told Deadline on Friday of the newly car-free main drag. “It’s a way better vibe,” added an executive walking in the middle of the road near Main Street Pizza & Noodle.

Usually, a nightmare obstacle course of cars, delivery vans, loading trucks and Sundance-sponsored vehicles trying to get high-profile cast and directors to events, Main Street by the second day of the festival makes Los Angeles’ 405 Freeway at rush hour look like a Formula 1 track.

This year, as families with baby strollers and groups of cinema fans ambled by amid the thousands on the street on a warmer-than-expected Friday afternoon, the retailers were booming.

Always popular stops like the Pink Elephant coffee shop at the back of the Prospect clothing store were more packed than in past years. “It’s amazing, we’re thinking of extending our hours this weekend to meet the demand,” a local business owner said, waving her arm around her busy boutique.