The "off-season" is how ski resort operators used to describe those months from spring to November. But not now. The word is definitely out about how darn pleasant the mountains are in the summer, and ski resorts and mountain towns throughout the US have responded by hosting concerts, festivals, and sports events from June through October. Park City is no exception. Following are a five reasons sure to make you wonder why summer in the mountains was ever considered "off."

1. The Weather

While the Western lowlands swelter, rarely do summertime highs climb above 85 degrees in Park City. That combined with almost non-existent humidity and zero bugs sets the stage for a climate pretty hard to beat. Note: If you plan on being outdoors after the sun goes down, be sure to bring along a sweatshirt or light jacket as evening temps tend to dip into the delightfully cool mid-40s.

2. Outdoor Concerts 

In Park City, the options for listening to live music while sitting outside on a blanket while sipping a cool beverage are many. Our town's two biggest concerts series are: the St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights Concert Series, a lineup of always big-name musicians which this summer features Melissa Etheridge, Kellie Pickler, Aloe Blacc, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and more; and the Deer Valley Music Festival, which pairs the venerable Utah Symphony with mainstream performers like Ben Folds, Diana Krall, and Leslie Odom, Jr.

Tapping into Park City's local resident vibe, Mountain Town Music books a series of free community concerts throughout the Park City area featuring regional bands and soloists. MTM venues include Woodenshoe Park in Peoa (Fridays), Main Street's Miner's Plaza (Saturdays); the Park Silly Market and Billy Blanco's Motor City Mexican and Taco Garage (Sundays), Deer Valley's Snow Park Amphitheater (Wednesdays) and Kamas's Dejoria Center and Newpark Plaza (Thursdays).  

3. Art 

Once Park City's ONLY summertime event, the annual Kimball Arts Festival has established itself as one of the West's premier visual arts festivals, featuring work from a variety of genres and attracting visitors from all 50 states. But you needn't wait until Arts Fest Weekend (August 4 - 6, 2017) to get your art on Park City. The Park City Gallery Association hosts a gallery stroll on the last Friday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. This summer the Sundance Institute celebrates its 20th anniversary of presenting free screenings of indie film favorites outside at City Park as part of its Summer Film Series.  And the dozens of galleries in Park City are constantly hosting demonstrations, shows, and other events throughout the summer featuring artists from all over the country.

4. Food

In case you haven't heard, at the moment there's a foodie revolution going on in Utah, fueled in no small part by Park City. Summer's unofficial kick-off is Savor the Summit, a huge outdoor dinner party centered around a long dining table placed down the center of Main Street. In July, oenophiles from near and far converge on Park City for the Park City Food & Wine Classic, an event combining some of the country's most innovative wines, food created by the most talented local chefs, and Park City's unparalleled outdoor recreation -- think a 30-mile road bike ride with a local whiskey maker followed a lunch with plenty of sipping or outdoor yoga paired with a champagne brunch. And you simply can't miss the popular farm-to-table and harvest dinners hosted by both the local Copper Moose Farms and Bill White Farms.    

5. Competition

Park City is literally bristling with athletes of all persuasions, which means that every weekend of the summer is booked with some kind of comp, race, or ride, held on the town's 400-plus miles of singletrack trails, meandering country roads, or ample playing fields. (One local athlete has set his sights on doing them all. You can read about him here.) Some of the most popular include the Jupiter Peak Steeple Chase, a footrace from City Park to the 10,000-foot summit of Jupiter Peak;  the Point2Point, a 75-mile mountain bike race held exclusively on singletrack; and the Tour des Suds, a fun and beer-fueled race/ride from City Park to the top of Guardsman Pass.

So what are you waiting for? Instead of heading to the beach this summer, why not give the mountains a try. For a complete list of lodging properties and seasonal deals, click here.