One of the main purposes of the Malad Valley Welsh Festival is to preserve and celebrate the pioneer heritage of Oneida County. The Festival, to be held June 30 – July 2 this year, will feature many opportunities to learn about the history of this area. Much of the history involves Welsh pioneers, but there will be events of interest to everyone, whether or not a family has lived here for generations or just moved here last week.  See the schedule at www.welshfestival.com.

Displays

In the fall of 2022, Jean Thomas received a phone call from a curator at a museum in Garden City (near Boise), wanting to know if the Malad museum would be interested in a Welsh Bible. Jean said, “yes,” thinking it was probably one that was brought across the Plains with the pioneers in the 1860s. When the very large, very heavy package arrived, everyone was surprised to find a Bible written in Welsh and illustrated with beautiful lithographs; the printing date was 1588. Although the leather cover was very worn, the perfect condition of the pages indicates that the Bible is a reproduction (probably from the late 1800s), but it is still a wonderful addition to the collection of Welsh artifacts to be displayed at the Welsh Festival.

Another Welsh Bible will again be on display at the Festival although the provenance of this other large Bible is less of a mystery. In 1915 the pastor of the Presbyterian Church donated the Bible to the church, and a few years ago Lucile Harrison, an elder of the local Presbyterian Church, donated this Bible, also dated 1588, to the Oneida County Library.

To further promote the pioneer heritage of the Valley, family trees and census records of over 30 of the first families to settle Oneida County will be on display at the Festival. Attendees in the past have been able to make connections related to their family histories through these displays.

A Walk Through Wales

Because so many of the pioneer settlers of Malad Valley came from Wales and because few people will ever have the opportunity to visit Wales, a photo exhibit called “A Walk Through Wales” will transport Festival attendees back to this beautiful little country through pictures of castles, churches, sheep, fishing villages, landmarks, and green, green scenery. It is said that the Welsh pioneers chose to settle at the base of the Samaria Mountains because the area reminded them of Wales.  During this long spring, the green on the hills, mountains, and valleys evokes thoughts of Wales.

All displays will be in the Cultural Hall of the church building adjacent Malad City Park on both days of the Festival.

Wagon Rides

Wagon rides along the historic Gold Road (North Main), the Old Bannack Trail (an offshoot of the Oregon Trail), and other routes in Malad will take visitors past sites that have historic significance to early Malad. The wagon rides are scheduled for both Friday and Saturday; passengers can board the wagons near the Library. Guides will tell the stories of the historic sites as the wagons travel along the streets of old Malad.

Other Events Celebrating History

Tours of the 140-year-old Presbyterian Church and programs in the nearly 110-year-old former Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now the 2nd-4th-5th Ward building) will show the beauty and history of these early buildings.

The Malad Middle School MathCounts Team, under the supervision of teacher Kathy Atkinson, will organize pioneer games to show kids of all ages how pioneer children and youth entertained themselves while crossing the Plains.

A visit to Samaria’s Heritage Square will be like a trip back in time as visitors will be able to walk through pioneer-era cabins, read about the Welsh emigration to Malad Valley, and eat authentic Welsh foods.

Fireside

The Festival’s concluding event will be a Sunday Fireside where the history of the 139-year-old Logan Temple will be presented by Robert Washburn. The Malad Stake was part of the Logan Temple District from 1884 to 2012, so the history of that temple is part of the history of many families in Malad. The Fireside is on Sunday, July 2, at 5:00 p.m. in the 2nd Ward building.

Come to the Welsh Festival and learn about the history of this Malad Valley, first settled in the 1860s. The historic displays are partially funded by the Bistline Family Foundation of the Idaho Community Foundation.