There is a thriving art scene in Carbon County and to celebrate it, the Helper community hosts an annual arts festival to promote and showcase the local artists. The event kicks off August 5 and 6 with dance concerts. Other events are scheduled August 18 through August 21. Over the years the festival has grown in both size and events.
“A group of artist landed here in Helper and we decided to start the festival,” said David Johnson, one of the original founders. “The city of Helper helped us get it started and gave us free rein to let us do what we wanted. It started small but it is quite large now.”
This year, they are adding an independent film component to the agenda and have worked with the Utah Film Commission to bring some of Utah’s best films to the local community. “Waking the Mammoth” and “In Football We Trust”, are a few on the docket. Tom Rockwell, a film director and founder of ‘Saturday Morning Video’, an independent production company that creates instructional material for children, will be hosting a workshop for kids that will introduce them to what it’s like to be a filmmaker.
The Helper Arts Festival is also a great venue to see many different types of demonstrations; people actually get to see how art is created.
“This year we have an artist that will be creating art with a chain saw,” Kate Kilpatrick-Miller, Co-Director, said. “And another artist that will be building a boat on main street.”
Currently, Helper has eight working galleries on Main Street and fifteen independent art studios so to kick off the festival; a gallery stroll is planned for Thursday night, August 18. The street will be closed to traffic so patrons can peruse with ease and linger while listening to live music.
Friday is start of the festival and it goes until Sunday afternoon. More than 50 vendors will be lining the street with anything from jewelry, to fabrics and paintings. There will be a variety of food vendors on site. You can enjoy a slice of wood oven pizza or partake in some barbecue.
There will also be a beer and wine tent for those who wish to have an adult beverage and several popular bands will take the stage throughout the two event.
See Helperartsfest.com for more information and a schedule of events.
