March 5, 2026
Salt Lake City is welcoming home athletes and once again inviting residents and visitors from across Utah to the free Watch Party, resuming March 6 through March 15, as the world’s elite Para athletes compete for gold.
To kick off the festivities, Olympic Gold Medalist Hilary Knight, captain of the United States Women’s National Hockey Team, and Olympic Bronze Medalist Brittany Bowe, a speedskater who resides in Salt Lake City, will take the stage at The Watch Party at noon on Saturday. They will be joined by other Olympians on stage and Kim Becker, emcee and Utah Mammoth TV host.
“We have so much sporting excellence to celebrate,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Just two weeks ago, our country brought home a record 12 gold medals from the world’s largest winter sports competition. And over the next 10 days, we get to watch six extraordinary winter sports that shift our focus from disability to ability.”
Following the onstage program, The Watch Party will stream the United States’ first sled hockey game against Italy. Sled hockey, also known as Para ice hockey, is a full-contact sport designed for athletes with lower-body disabilities, with players in specialty sleds that each sit on top of two hockey skate blades.
The USA’s first-ever sled hockey team got its start in Salt Lake City in 2002, when the newly-formed team shocked the world by winning gold. They’ve maintained a spot on the podium since and are preparing to compete for their fifth consecutive gold medal.
Upcoming Watch Party Highlights
- Welcome home athletes: Noon, Saturday, March 7 on Library Square
- Daily broadcasts: Watch Para athletes compete across six different sports on big outdoor screens with picnic tables and a weekend bar area
- Live concerts: March 6-7, March 13-14 from 4-6 p.m. featuring local bands and DJs like The Pickpockets, The Plastic Cherries, and Bo York
- Free ILLUMINATE Festival: This Utah Arts Alliance event will also take place at the Civic Center, from 5-10 p.m., March 6-7
- Daily food trucks
- Live broadcast of the Sled Hockey Gold Final at 9 a.m., Sunday, March 15
Visitors can find the event’s daily hours, food truck schedule, lineup of free live entertainment, accessible entrances, daily programming schedule, and parking on The Watch Party’s website. The Watch Party is located at 450 S. 200 East, Salt Lake City.
Importance of Para Sport
Para sport brings together elite athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments competing at the highest international level. The six sports that will be broadcasted during The Watch Party include Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, sled hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling. Athletes compete in classifications that ensure fair and exciting competition.
The Watch Party looks forward to cheering on Para athletes with ties to Utah, including Saylor O’Brien, Noah Bury, Andrew Haraghey, Michael O’Hearn, Brenna Huckaby, Kate Delson, Jackie Hamwey, Keith Gabel, and Dani Aravich.
Tags: Brittany Bowe, Civic Center, Downtown, Hilary Knight, Hockey, Illuminate Festival, Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Olympics, paralympics, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Speed skating, Team USA, The Watch Party