BOUNTIFUL -- A slice of heaven came to Bountiful this weekend in the form of the annual Summerfest. It was the perfect summer event for strolling along and sipping a lemonade while taking in the sights of numerous artists and the sounds of international music -- or even the local sounds of bluegrass by the Wildflowers of West Valley City.

For the Pabla family of Bountiful, Summerfest is more than just a place to spend time. It's a family tradition.

"This is like Christmas for us," said Shirley Pabla. "We have eight children, and we look forward to this event all year and we are sad when it's over."

The Pablas, like many other local residents, open their homes to international performers who come in each year from around the globe to perform at Summerfest.

"We've made wonderful friends," Pabla said. "This year we have a group from Poland staying with us. They are so nice and polite."

One group of Germans who stayed with the Pablas a few years ago surprised Shirley when they called to wish her a happy birthday after retuning home.

"This is such a neat way to give our children exposure to other cultures."

One such international visitor was Ramon Almodal, a resident of the Phillipines.

"We've been to Burley and Rigby, Idaho," he said. "I love Utah and Bountiful. The people here are so nice. They are always saying hello to us and people have done everything to make us happy."

Almodal has especially en-joyed the wide open spaces this part of the United States has to offer.

"In Manila it is very crowded," he said. "I love it here because there are nice playgrounds and parks for families to play in."

The international music was a big hit with fans, but the Jeppson family, with mom and five daughters, which makes up the Wildflowers, brought in the country sounds people might expect to hear in Utah.

"We have been playing together for more than five years," said 18 year-old Katy, the band's lead singer. "It's something we really enjoy doing."

Bountiful resident Mary Stromness found some irony as she listened to a group of Peruvian musicians. "My granddaughter, Jennifer Gerrard, is over in Europe performing with the BYU Folk Dancers," Stromness said. "So it's fun to be here watching different groups of entertainers from all over the world performing for us."