Danny Masterson's club Downstairs is expected to host some of Sundance's hottest parties.

Debunking rumors of a scaled-back Sundance following last year’s mellow fest, the growing confirmation of sponsored lounges and celebrity soirees has proven that 2010 has may reach the epic level of years past, complete with $10,000 swag bags from the Wow! Lifestyle Lounge and Alive Expo! Green Pavilion, as well as FredSegalFun’s legendary Style Lounge.

“Usually when some people step up and set the bar, others follow,” said publicist Josh Mitchell of Wickid Pissa, whose client slate includes Film Utah Magazine’s Launch Party, the new Tweet House industry lounge, and Crown on Main, a luxury suite sponsored by Belvedere Vodka, Moet & Chandon, Hennessy and Grand Marnier.  For the first time, producers have set a limited number tickets aside for purchase, capping the exclusive guest list at 250 lucky people.

Some of the Festival mainstays have upped their game this year, including a bigger, better House of Hype, an amped ASCAP Music Lounge, now at the Stanfield Gallery with LeAnn Rimes and The Fray among headlining acts, and reinvigorated gifting action at The Lift.

Oakley’s Learn to Ride sessions at The Canyons have also returned, with gold-medalist Shaun White and fellow pro riders Danny Kass, Gretchen Bleiler and Zach Leach in tow to teach A-Listers how to hit the slopes. (Season-pass wielding Park Citizens can catch this guaranteed entertainment mid-week. Celebs may get head-to-toe gear, but locals can gloat in the ability to make turns.) The less coordinated can score some action — and even swag — at The Canyons’ Miller Lite Sled Races.

On the private party scene, L.A. promoter Mac Africa, queen of Hollywood hot spots Green Door, Vanguard, Aqua and others, will again host one of the most coveted parties of the Festival, a private industry affair drawing A-List producers, filmmakers and agencies. William Morris Entertainment has already confirmed its place on a tightly monitored guest list which includes Juliette Lewis and The Fray.

Mac Africa

Main Street’s clubs have just begun to confirm music lineups, with acts solidified in the coming weeks. Actor/DJ Danny Masterson (of That ’70s Show and The Chicago 8) has remained mum so far on the events of his wildly popular Main Street club Downstairs, but is confirmed to play Saturday night with Steve Aoki for the comedy site AXECYB’s party at the Sky Suite, an intimate venue atop the Sky Lodge with an outdoor balcony and hot tubs. The Kardashian sisters have unsurprisingly already confirmed attendance.

Up the street at Harry O’s, which recently unveiled a posh new private loft, musical acts have begun to emerge that may eclipse even last year’s star-studded roster, including the near-certain return of Camp Freddy, a Snoop Dogg Saturday night finale, and a special appearance by Joan Jett, who has made recent headlines as the subject of the Sundance film The Runaways – a movie outlining her teen rock stardom starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.

A highlight purely for Park City socialites is the return of (a)perture’s “Locals Take Back” party, a fashion show and swag-filled soiree free to Park Citizens. Last year’s event introduced indie sensations Kid Theodore to the scene while sending lucky fashionistas away with cosmetics, apparel and gift cards to local boutiques. This year’s event will return to the newly remodeled Sidecar bar.

Locals and Sundance survivors are are also invited to late-week events at the Sidecar, including performances by Afro Omega, Ryan Hiller and the Soulistics.