BYU NewsNet - Jubilees jump out of the norm

Parades, fireworks, Ferris wheels and cotton candy: the stuff summer festivals are made of. Fortunately for Utah residents, cities incorporate weeklong festivals to celebrate. While each one is unique, they promote cultural awareness, patriotism and the value of families.

Nearly every Utah County town offers some kind of festival commemorating their founding or some other detail distinctive to the city. These festivals are usually written in stone as far as the date they are celebrated but other newer festivals have cropped up since the founding of original local celebrations.

Danielle Richards, a junior majoring in humanities, recalls attending last year’s Llama Festival in Spanish Fork. A poster of the event still hangs on her wall and serves as a reminder of memories attached to the event.

She fondly recalled her time spent with the unusual creatures and referred to her only summer spent in Provo as her favorite yet.

“During the summer, there is always an exciting event going on in Utah,” Richards said.

The Hare Krishna temple sponsors the Llama Festival in mid-July.

The festival coordinator, Charu Das, suggests humans could learn a lot from llamas.

“Humans define themselves by the number of things we possess,” Das said. “They [llamas] simply eat grass, work and remain calm and happy.

Humans should emulate their selfless nature.”

On Saturday, the temple will also host the Himalayan Festival, a performing arts showcase of Indian Nepalese dance.

At the World Folkfest, now in its 23rd year, native dancers will travel from Algeria, Nepal, Romania and other countries to perform in colorful costumes in small-town Springville.

In addition to the international performers, three local groups, Rocky Mountain Express, Voice of Polynesia and Morning Star, will perform this year, July 28 through August 1.

“The Springville World Folkfest is a great opportunity for students to meet with international dancers and musicians as well as watch them perform,” said Donna Breckenridge, the Folkfest’s general director. “Those who served missions in any of the countries represented can brush up their language skills too.”

Springville’s Spring Acres Park was built especially for Folkfest and features a covered stage, a sound and lighting booth and seating for 5,000. UNESCO awarded the event the highest “A” rating, according to its Web site.

Whether students prefer regular hometown celebrations complete with corn dogs, parade floats or food eating contests there is a festival for everyone.