As a kickoff to its first annual event, the Malad Valley Heritage Square saw an active and busy weekend.  The two day event was packed, with a wide range of vendors, events, activities, and people throughout the especially pleasant weather and welcoming atmosphere.  Between the busy schedule of daily events and the special contests throughout, the weekend definitely showed off the kinds of things Samaria is famous for.

Throughout the weekend, events included ice cream and butter churning, candle dipping, rope making, pony rides, fortune telling, leather working, cornhole, apple cider pressing, pumpkin carving, wool spinning, blacksmithing, and more.  

Neil and Kurt Davis, as well as Carson Pate and others were on hand to demonstrate a number of blacksmithing techniques.  Luke Waldron had met them while working at a living history museum in Utah, and they were more than happy to bring their range of demonstrations up to the Malad Valley.  

Pat Davis spent the weekend spinning wool into skeins of yarn, which totaled several hundred yards worth by the end of the weekend, spun on an old fashioned spinning wheel.  

Over the course of the weekend, a number of musical acts graced the stage, from open mic sign ups to scheduled acts.  A group of local singers called Ma’Ladies, musician Melissa Gibbs, the Teeples Family, a Barbershop Quartet, a String Quartet, and the Girls Trio all performed during the festival.  Both nights featured a bonfire and marshmallow roast.  Friday night saw a screening of the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, and the Intermountain American band closed out the event on Saturday, with a mix of country and bluegrass styled music.

Other events included a Witch’s Cackle or Wizard’s laugh contest, a Talk Like a Pirate Contest, a swing dance class, Edith’s Collective’s craft table, animals, puppies, kittens, and baby pigs for sale, a Spooky Cabin, and other attractions.

One of the biggest draws of the weekend was the pie baking contest, which brought out contestants from across the valley.  Aurora Olsen, age 8, ended up with the winning pie ($100), made from fresh blackberries.  Dennis Langford took second ($50) with a zucchini pie that the assembled crowd raved about, and Emma Smith, 12, took third ($25) with an apple pie.

The pies were not done, however.  The pie eating contest was divided into kids and adult categories, with full cream pies for the adults and peach and apple pie slices for the kids.  Caleen Pickett ultimately managed to take the top spot, followed by Elder Garcia.  Among the kids, Doris Young took the top spot.    

Sherrie Thomas spent the afternoons reading fall themed stories to kids on the “straw castle” structure built in the middle of the Square’s open area.  Using visual aids, she read through stories such as “The Gruffalo” as parents and adults took a minute to rest and enjoy a timeless tale or two.

Pony rides, as well as wagon rides around the site were kept in constant action over the two days.  

The event was organized and supported in part by by Donna Whipple’s Entrepreneurship class, which was tasked was coming up with ideas for activities that could be used to raise money.  Members of the group were assigned to develop a series of activities, and then survey attendees throughout the weekend to gather feedback on the events themselves in order to determine which were the most successful and why.  The group did a fantastic job of coming up with a wide variety of things to keep people busy, and keep the event as a whole moving.  Pressed apple cider was one of the most popular tables, as people were able to buy fresh pressed cider prepared by the group and other volunteers throughout the weekend.

Ada Campbell organized the large number of vendors in attendance during the weekend, including the new sensation, Waffle on a Stick, as well as many local favorites.  

Travis Whipple served as emcee during the event, keeping the stage busy as the weekend progressed.

The sponsors included Northern Title, J Peak Propane, Thomas Electric, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, Hess Truck/Auto/Ag, Oneida Family Dental, DL Evans—Tremonton, Hess Lumber, ATC Communications, Northwestern Mutual, Tooke and Associates, Tiny Tots Daycare and Preschool, Thomas Market, Ward Feed and Seed, Allen Drug, as well as dozens of local volunteers and friends.  If you are interested in sponsoring or volunteering at an upcoming Samaria event, you can contact Luke Waldron at [email protected].  

The Malad Valley Heritage Square is a project of the Samaria Community Foundation, which is a 501 c(3) organization, and all proceeds from the event will go to support its future projects, including the building of a new stage.