More than 70 artisans will demonstrate trades of the era, including wood carving, lace making, Indian beading, rag rug weaving, basket weaving, broom making and rawhide braiding. These arts and crafts, including moccasins, stained glass, arrowheads, brooms and rugs will be available to purchase. An old-fashioned threshing bee will be held on the 1917 Jensen Farm located at the Heritage Center. Watch as a team of workhorses pulls a wagon loaded with hay. See the steam engine fuel the thresher, or feel free to pitch a few bundles yourself.
Every detail is inspected for accuracy.
Special events include the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, World Championship Dutch Oven Cook-off, Western Heritage Art Show, American Heritage Quilt Festival and the Western Horse Parade. On July 28, the Sons of the San Joaquin, cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell and balladeer Don Edwards combine their talents at the opening night concert held under the stars in an amphitheater. Former Broadway star and Utah favorite Robert Peterson hosts the pageant, which uses narration, multimedia, dance and music to tell the story of the settling of the West. Bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on. The Festival of the American West has twice won the prestigious Heritage Preservation Award presented by the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation and has been ranked as one of the top 100 attractions in North America by the American Bus Tour Association for five consecutive years.