For the second year in a row, the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) will be hosting a Live Watch Party at The Argyros in downtown Ketchum! This July 19-21, we will broadcast select talks from the 2025 Writers’ Conference to their large theater screen throughout the day, with stadium-style seating, air-conditioning, special guest appearances, drinks, music, and more.

We developed the Live Watch Party in 2024, due to overwhelming demand for our Full Conference  Passes, single events tickets, and other free programs—all of which typically sell out and fill up within minutes. With the additional space provided at the Live Watch Party, we can invite even more of our local community to participate.

“It is one of our foremost goals to make SVWC as inclusive as possible,” says Marketing & Communications Manager Kate Elgee Haase. “We understand how difficult it can be to secure passes for SVWC—either because they are in such high demand and sell out so quickly, or because cost is a barrier, and we know both can be disheartening.”

In response, we have expanded our free events and community programs, offering a variety of ways to join at different price points.

Our Full Conference Passes, which sell out within minutes every February, are $1,100. They have only increased in price a few hundred dollars over the last decade, despite selling out every year. In 2022, to keep prices affordable and allow for more of our Wood River Valley’s youth to attend, SVWC added a half-price Next Generation Pass for those 35 and under for $550.

New this year, we are offering Special Series Pavilion Passes, which provide access to a series of afternoon Pavilion Talks each day. Individual day passes for select Pavilion talks range from $50 – $150 with passes for all three days totaling $350.

The Live Watch Party is even more affordable at just $25 per day. You can purchase passes for all three days totaling $75. And as usual, SVWC still provides many ways to join for free—everything from free talks at The Community Library to free lawn talks and livestreaming. You can also find SVWC content in our digital media library for free.

An added benefit of joining us at The Argyros theater, as many 2024 Live Watch Party attendees noted, is the cool air-conditioned space, comfortable seats, and state-of-the-art audio-visuals. In the words of a few 2024 Live Watch Party attendees, “I felt like I was onstage with the speakers!” and “The large screen made it possible to see every expression and hear every word.”

The Argyros is also ADA-accessible, which makes it a wonderful option for those who would like to escape the sun and heat (or possible smoky skies), for those who are visually impaired or need clearer audio, or for those who would like to avoid large crowds due to health concerns. There is also easy ramped access for anyone with mobility issues.

We hope those who join us at the Live Watch Party feel like they are part of SVWC, gathering together with fellow local booklovers to celebrate the written word.

Passes go on sale June 23 from the SVWC website. Visit svwc.com/watchparty for more details and information or subscribe to our email newsletter so you don’t miss a thing.