Festival to focus on early history of Brigham City

Brigham City's Heritage Arts Festival will highlight the time period from the building of the county courthouse in 1856 to the building of the arch in 1928.

Heritage crafts and home arts, music and dance, lectures and children's games will celebrate the early years of Brigham City.

"On-site food and drink, as well as access to downtown restaurants, old-time children's games and all-day entertainment, will make the festival a place for families to spend an entire day," said Paul Larsen, planning and economic development coordinator for the city, who is involved with planning the festival.

• Ballet West's Bene Arnold and Bruce Caldwell, and Carol Iwasaki, University of Utah ballet department chairwoman, will discuss the history and contributions of the Christensen Brothers, Willam, Harold and Lew, who were nationally known figures in the world of ballet. The discussion will supplement a performance of Lew Christensen's "Divertissement d'Auber" by Ballet West soloist Kristin Harkala. Principal Tong Wang will join her for a pas de deux from Willam Christensen's "Coppelia."

• Scott R. Christensen, author of "Sagwitch: Shoshone Chieftain, Mormon Elder, 1822-1887," will talk about the famous Shoshone chief who lived in the Box Elder County area.

• Dan Davis, curator of the Compton Photography Collection at Utah State University, will discuss the Compton family and their images that documented the history of Brigham City.

• Delia Armstrong will present a trunk show on "100 Years of Quilts."

• Historian Kathleen Bradford will talk about Brigham City's colorful past.

• The Brigham City Museum-Gallery, located at 24 N. 300 West, will have a display of folk art primarily from the state of Utah's collection.

• Musical entertainment will range from bagpipes to the Cinnamon Creek folk ensemble to the Lincoln Youth Symphony.

• Children's games will include rolling hoops, Jacob's Ladder and Bilboa Catcher. Puppet master Susan Neidert will also be doing shows.

• Craft and artisan demonstrations will focus on pioneer home arts, such as blacksmithing, candy-making, spinning, weaving, soap-making, broom-making and pottery.