From Deseret News archives:
Park to re-create 1848 First Harvest
This Is the Place celebration to follow in footsteps of pioneers
"This was called a harvest feast; we partook freely of a rich variety of bread, beef, butter, cheese, cakes, pastry, green corn, melons and almost every variety of vegetable. Large sheaves of wheat, rye, barley, oats and other productions were hoisted on poles for public exhibition, and there was prayer and thanksgiving, congratulations, songs, speeches, music, dancing, smiling faces and merry hearts. In short, it was a great day with the people of these valleys, and long to be remembered," recorded Latter-day Saint leader Parley Pratt.
And at This is the Place Heritage Park this weekend, the historical park will re-create the pioneers' celebration, called First Harvest, with a merchant square, farmer's market, crafts, entertainment and Dutch oven food on Friday and Saturday. This year is the first time the event has been open to the public.
"This is actually another event like the 24th (of July, Pioneer Day) that's completely tied to an actual celebration the pioneers would have done," said Cliff Harris, park events coordinator.
Tying a cornstalk with autumn leaves, dried flowers, wheat and pumpkins, park employee Viki Strong gathered the decorations most grown at the park that will adorn the buildings, light poles and market stands.
"The village will be alive with people preparing for the harvest," she said. Chores that the character interpreters will be doing will activate all the senses, Strong said, from making apple butter and Dutch oven food to planting sunflowers and picking pumpkins.
"The idea is to build it into a major festival," CEO Paul Williams said.
First Harvest was first held as a private fund-raiser in 1999 and 2000, but its popularity convinced park administration to bring it back as a public event. "One of the things that I'm most excited about is a character interpreter that will play Father Escalante," he said.
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