Summerfest kicks off Thursday in Bountiful

BOUNTIFUL — Summerfest has arrived with folk dancing from seven countries, arts and crafts vendors selling their wares, ethnic food vendors and many other events continuing through Sunday.

The annual festival, properly known as Bountiful Summerfest International, began in 1974 as a small fine-art festival on the Bountiful Tabernacle grounds. It is sponsored by the Bountiful/Davis Arts Center with help from the city and other organizations.

Activities will take place in Bountiful City Park, 200 E. 400 North, Thursday through Saturday. Daily admission is $5 per person or $15 per family. Children under 11 accompanied by an adult are free. Discount coupons are available on the Bountiful/Davis Art Center Web site, www.bdac.org.

At 6 p.m. tonight city officials and local dignitaries welcome international participants at City Hall. Immediately after, the free annual street dance begins on Main Street. The street dance offers the opportunity for residents to interact with the international dancers, who will teach their traditional dance steps.

StreetFest, an addition this year, will be on Main Street today through Saturday. Artists will create their art on Main during the days. They will donate paintings to be auctioned Thursday through Saturday. Bountiful's Main Street merchants will have their annual sidewalk days sale as part of StreetFest.

On Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Summerfest will be free to the public because of a grant from Target stores. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy the international performances and international bazaar with arts and crafts from Kenya, Peru, India, Russia and Zimbabwe, as well as traditional American crafts.

On Friday each international group will give two complete performances. The performances will end with the traditional World Jam at 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday the international groups will also give two performances. The Children's Art Yard will be open for children while their parents peruse the art booths or listen to the entertainment. Admission to the Children's Art Yard is $2 for kids up to age 10.

Saturday night's conclusion will feature, after the international dancers, Taiko drummers and a Tongan dire dance.

For more information, go to the Bountiful/Davis Art Center Web site, www.bdac.org.

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E-mail: lweist@desnews.com