Concert FAQs
Summer Concerts
General Information
Food and drink vendors will be on-site at each show if you’d prefer to pack light. No pets, cameras, weapons, outside alcohol or recording devices are permitted. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, and shows will be held rain or shine.
Please remember that The Center’s events are shared arts experiences. We ask that you be respectful to those seated near you and to the performers, staff and volunteers. Photography, smoking, talking during performances, and the use of cell phones are not permitted. Patrons who are disruptive, disrespectful or inebriated before, during or after a performance will be asked to leave the venue and will not receive a refund.
Where are the venues?
Please be sure to double-check the concert location before heading out! For the 2019 Summer Concert Series, all concerts will take place at River Run Lodge, located at the base of Sun Valley Resort’s Bald Mountain ski area for summer concerts. The easiest access to River Run is from Highway 75 via Serenade Lane, just south of Ketchum. Map programs aren’t always reliable in getting people to River Run, so just know that the concert will be held at the bottom of the gondola on Baldy right off highway 75 on the south side of Ketchum. Click here for a map of River Run Lodge.
What should I park for summer concerts?
If you can ride a bike to the summer concerts – do! Ketchum and Sun Valley have great bike paths and there will be bike racks at both shows. If you need to drive, there is ample free parking at both locations (maps above). At River Run, there will be a parking attendant to guide those with handicapped parking permits to the closest parking available. At River Run guests may park in the top parking lot on Third Avenue South (listed inaccurately on Google maps as Cottonwood Street) or the parking lot just before the bike path crosses the road. The lowest lot is reserved for those with handicapped parking permits or special permission only. If you can ride a bike or walk to the shows, please do! Bike racks will be provided at the site.
Does my child need a ticket?
Children 3 years and older require a ticket for admittance and there are student tickets (for those 18 and under) for the Michael Franti & Spearhead with Ziggy Marley as well as the Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats concerts. There are no student tickets for the Jackson Browne concert. Those younger than 3 are free, but please consider whether a concert will be too loud for young ears. Be sure to keep your children with you at all times, away from the river and the unfenced wilderness areas.
What about the weather?
The weather in and around the Wood River Valley is beautiful during the summer, but anything can happen! Be prepared with sunscreen, a jacket and long pants for the cool evenings. All shows will be held rain or shine. If weather conditions are unsafe for the performers or audience, The Center reserves the right to suspend or end a show before or during a concert. Please check The Center’s Facebook page or website before the show for the most recent information. In the event of dangerously high winds or lightning during a concert, the show may be paused, postponed or cancelled. In the event of a cancellation, The Center will provide patrons with options for the value of their ticket as soon as possible.
Are there restrooms?
At River Run, portable restrooms, including ADA accessible toilets, will be available on the north and south sides of the venue on the dirt access roads.
Can I bring in a picnic?
Food may be brought into summer concerts, but per Sun Valley Resort’s policy, outside alcohol is not allowed inside the venues. Be advised that coolers and bottles will be checked by security at the entry. Empty water bottles are permitted, and there will be water stations inside the venue. Sun Valley Resort will be selling drinks and alcoholic beverages inside the venue, and there will also be food vendors on-site. A list of the vendors for each show will be included in a reminder email sent to those who have pre-purchased tickets.
Seating? What are these venues like?
At River Run, the venue is a big, lovely lawn. Seating is first come, first served and is wheelchair accessible – again, blankets and chairs may not be set up early and if they are, will be removed prior to doors. There are no chairs at River Run (other than in the VIP area). You may sit on the grass or bring a tarp, blanket or low-backed chairs (no more than 8” high—a basketball should not be able to roll underneath). You may be asked to move if the height of your chair blocks other patrons’ view.
At the Sun Valley Pavilion, seats are assigned upon purchase. Lawn seating at the Pavilion is first come, first served – no blankets or chairs may be set up in the morning and will be removed prior to doors. At the Pavilion, there is a jumbotron that allows viewers to see a live feed of the concert, the majority of the lawn does not have sight lines to the stage.
Can I set up early?
Nope. The Pavilion lawn and River Run will be closed to public access at approximately 3pm on concert days. Any chairs set up before 3pm will be removed. However, for River Run, you have the option to purchase early entry tickets (when available) that allow access to the site 15 minutes before the gates open for general admission ticket holders.
Those who come in early may choose where they set up, with the exception of the VIP seating area directly in front of the sound board. This VIP area is reserved just for VIP ticket holders. If you do come in early, be sure to stay at your chosen site—we cannot guarantee that other people will not encroach on your area! Once the gates open to general admission ticket holders, patrons are free to set up anywhere available.
What can’t I bring to the concerts?
No smoking, vaping, pets, weapons, professional photographic, audio or video equipment, alcohol … or bad behavior! There will be bag/cooler checking at each concert and potentially wanding of all entrants. Please make sure that knives or any weapons are left in cars – we will refuse entry to anyone with a weapon. And, as much as we love pets, please leave them at home. Please do not leave any pet inside your car for any length of time.
Can I smoke or vape at the concerts?
For the comfort of all, please don’t. All of the summer shows are non-smoking.
Standing, dancing, sitting?
The acts we book for our concerts play upbeat music, and people here love to dance! Choose where to sit depending on what you expect from your fellow patrons. If you don’t like people standing up or dancing near you, please choose a spot well away from the stage.
Can I get a refund or exchange for my tickets if I can’t make it to the show?
Summer concert tickets are not exchangeable or refundable, and the shows will go on, rain or shine. If you cannot use your tickets, you may give them to a friend or return them to The Center prior to the show for a tax-deductible contribution equal to the price you paid for the tickets (excluding ticketing fees, which are not tax deductible). Please contact the box office for more information.
Photography/Videography/Taping
In general, any recording by attendees of musicians or performers at Sun Valley Center for the Arts events is not permitted. Also, by purchasing a ticket to one of our events, you agree to our Terms & Conditions which includes a Photo Participation & Waiver Release. Sun Valley Center concerts are professionally photographed, and we often use these photos in our promotional materials. By purchasing a ticket and attending the concert, you consent to your voice, name, and/or likeness being used without compensation in publications or videos anytime in the future.
Professional photographers must contact The Center in advance to receive permission to take photos at our concerts. Permission may be granted, but photographers must also follow The Center’s guidelines or risk being asked to leave and/or lose the right to photograph future events.
In Case of Emergency
In the event of an emergency at a summer concert, please call 911. In addition, EMTs and security personnel will be on-site. Please alert members of The Center’s staff of any emergency.
Winter Concerts
General Information
All seats are reserved for The Center’s winter concerts. Series purchasers get first access to tickets and the sooner you purchase, the better your seats. Concerts will have a premium seating area as well as a regular priced seating area. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged.
Please remember that The Center’s events are shared experiences. We ask that you be respectful to those seated near you and to the performers, staff and volunteers. Photography, smoking, talking during performances, and the use of cell phones are not permitted. Patrons who are disruptive, disrespectful or inebriated before, during or after a performance, will be asked to leave the venue and will not receive a refund.
What time should I arrive?
We request that you arrive at least 10–15 minutes before curtain time to find your seats and purchase concessions, if you wish! At some of our venues, parking is a short walk from the venue. Please plan accordingly.
May I take pictures, video or record sound?
No video, photography or recording of any kind is permitted at The Center’s concerts. Professional photographers must contact The Center in advance to receive permission to take photos at our concerts. Permission may be granted, but photographers must follow The Center’s guidelines or risk being asked to leave and/or lose the right to photograph future events.
Where is the venue? And where do I park?
Please be sure to check the concert location before heading out, and contact us if you have any questions. We use a variety of locations around the valley for our indoor concerts. The Sun Valley Opera House has ample parking in the lot in front of the Sun Valley Lodge. NexStage Theater has on-street parking nearby, but please do not park in the Village Market parking lot. Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater is located in Hailey and has a parking lot in front of the Community Campus building. If this lot is full, there may be overflow parking available in the high school lots to the north of the Community Campus.
Does my child need a ticket?
Yes. We do not allow babes in arms for our winter concerts, and children who do attend must have their own purchased seat. For the 2017-2018 winter concerts, we offer specially priced tickets for students 18 and under. Due to the nature of our concerts being intimate, evening events, our shows are not recommended for infants or toddlers. Please contact The Center at 208.726.9491 for more information about Center and Company of Fools events that are appropriate for kids.
ADA Accessibility
Our venues are ADA accessible, but due to the age of certain venues, some have special concerns. Please contact us at 208.726.9491 to let us know how we can best accommodate you.
Refunds or Exchanges
Winter concert tickets are not exchangeable or refundable. If you cannot use your tickets, you may give them to a friend or return them to The Center before the show for a tax-deductible contribution equal to the price you paid for the tickets (excluding ticketing fees, which are not tax deductible).
Picking Up Tickets / Print at Home
If you’ve ordered tickets online or through our box office, they will be held at will call at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. You may pick up your tickets during regular business hours (Mon–Fri, 9–5, and Saturdays during February, March, July and August, 11–5). If you are unable to pick up your tickets in advance, they’ll be at will call at the venue on the day of the event. For some of our events, “Print at Home” is an option. If you print your tickets at home via the “Barcoded ETicket,” you do not need to pick them up at will call.
Canceled or Postponed Shows
For reasons beyond our control (e.g., weather, artist scheduling, illness), shows may be canceled or postponed. If this occurs, we will contact ticket holders via email and post announcements on our website and Facebook page to alert patrons of any changes and what The Center will do in this particular situation.