Colonial Fest

COLONIAL FEST

July 3-6

9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SCERA Park (southeast side)

695 S. State Street, Orem

MEET HISTORY FACE TO FACE at the Seventh Annual Colonial Heritage Festival, a free four-day event for the whole family. Travel back in time through our living museum known as the Village at Aubin’s Grove at SCERA Park, and visit our indoor Colonial relics museum in room 201 at the SCERA Center for the Arts.

Journey down King’s Highway and visit Colonial artisans, exhibits, demonstrations, and join in the great debates, public trials, and storytelling in the Old South Church.

The village celebrates the Colonial period from 1607 Jamestown, 1620s Plimouth and the Pilgrims, through to the signing of the Constitution in 1787.

From our grand Mayflower replica and maritime interactive exhibits to the Colonial School, children will be attended to by teachers from the Alpine School District. Children will also be able to play Colonial games and participate in the daily children’s chores.

It will be hard not to purchase a morsel or two at Widger Bakehouse featuring an onsite brick oven and offering some of the best bread west of the colonies. For fun try a square of hard tack.

Military enthusiasts can visit the gun displays, and the men’s Haberdashery, and see hand sewn uniforms before they gather for military musters and drills. Beware! Men and boys will be drafted on sight. Like Lexington and Concord again, wander to the open field and experience the cannon firing on the green.

New to the event this year is our “sheep to shawl” exhibit. Take some time to see how wool was turned into clothing. Then wander over to the Cup and Quill Print shop and see the Ben Franklin press and visit with the calligraphers on duty as we bring together the written and printed word.

We welcome our new maritime exhibit with the full scaled version of the Mayflower, plus are full size replica of the Captains quarters of the actual Mayflower. Pack a trunk for the long trip across the Atlantic and join in learning maritime knot tying and more.

Exhibits include the apothecary shop, blacksmith, cooper, broom maker, gunsmith, spoon maker, potter, bobbin lace maker, bee keeper, chandler, wood worker, women’s clothing, home life, frontier life, and much more.

Photo opportunities are available at the pillory and stocks, or as you visit with Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and other notables and villagers of the time. A general store will be available to buy Colonial games, quills, books, and other patriotic fare. Food vendors will also be available in the park.

Special musical event - presented by the Orem Chorale and Colonial Festival

Wednesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. at the Orem High Auditorium – Admission free

Old South Church schedule –

9:30-10:00 - Colonial Crime and Punishment, a mock trial for hog stealing, other offenses featuring Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson as our presiding Loyalist Magistrate

10:30-11:30 - Colonial storytellers (Two tellers, 25 minutes each) includes: African-American stories, Colonial stories, and songs and stories from a loyalist’s view

11:30-12:30 - Old South Church debate with audience participation. Will you vote to take the tea off the boat or throw it in the harbor? Followed by military conscription and muster, men and boys beware!

Events repeated from 1-4 p.m. and 4:30 -7 :30 p.m.