To coincide with the Sept. 23, 1776, arrival of Father Escalante and Father Dominguez, Catholic missionaries who explored the Great Basin, a new character interpreter will chronicle their journey. In addition, a character interpreter will also play an early Utah mountain man.

"Those will focus on two important aspects of exploration before the pioneers," Williams said. "Pioneers that were here before the fur trappers, before the Mormon pioneers."

In addition to the celebration of Father Escalante's journey, there will be a tribute to firefighters through a traditional firefighters' muster; a ceremony to honor Utah's first fire chief, Jesse C. Little; a bucket brigade competition; and tours of Ottinger-Little hall, which holds a collection of historical firefighting equipment.

"It (the celebration) shows the bounty of the state. It wasn't just an 1848 event. We've been successful ever since," Jed Platt, an outside events planner who was hired to help with First Harvest.

Platt has taken a keen interest in the event — many of the activities have been taken from accounts of his great-great-grandfather Parley Pratt.

Regular park admission prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children and seniors.. For more information, visit www.thisistheplace.org or call 582-1847.

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E-mail: astowell@desnews.com