BY JENNIFFER WARDELL

Clipper Staff Writer

BOUNTIFUL — It’s a celebration of pioneers, community and having fun in the summer sunshine.

Bountiful’s 2012 Handcart Days, coming on Friday and Saturday, offers two days of music, food, floats, fireworks, and local spirit. Whether it’s your first year or your 20th, here are some important things to remember if you want to get the most out of this year’s event.

• Handcart Days has an evening parade, which this year starts at 1500 S. and Main Street at 6 p.m. on Friday. A complete route of the map is available online at handcartdays.org, though Bountiful City won’t allow people to set up parade chairs until 7 a.m. that morning.

• The Sons of Helaman event will be part of the parade, with all 2,000 young men marching along the route. The group was inspired by a story from the Book of Mormon, and it complements this year’s Handcart Days theme, “They Did Not Doubt.” Part of their intended parade routine may cause noises loud enough to startle small children.

• The Grand Marshal of Bountiful Handcart Days Parade will be Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet and his wife, Mary. Members of the Utah National Guard, along with their families, will be riding in the parade with the couple.

• The parade will feature five of the oldest Eagle Scouts in the Bountiful area and an entry honoring the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America.

• Food, games and activities will be at Bountiful City Park from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Many booths will require tickets, which will be sold at a separate ticket booth that will open a half hour early on Saturday for those wanting to beat the rush.

• Though some areas may have credit card readers, having cash on hand will make purchases quicker and easier.

• Be patient with the people manning the food booths. They’re volunteers.

• Music and dance groups will be performing for both days on the park’s stage. For those who don’t want to miss a specific group, a complete schedule of performances is included above. It’s also helpful for those who don’t have a specific performer they’re interested in, but don’t want to accidentally plan for music when the stage is quiet.

• There isn’t an official Handcart Days arts and crafts exhibit this year, since organizers thought the Bountiful/Davis Art Center would be closed for remodeling. The competition and exhibit are expected to return next year.

• For those who consider art a key part of the Handcart Days experience, BDAC will be hosting an exhibit titled “Conversations in Culture.” The featured art, which ties in to Bountiful’s upcoming Summerfest International, focuses on art by artists who were either born in another country or whose work focuses on international travel. More information on the exhibit can be found on page B1.

• The fireworks display will be at dusk on July 20 above Mueller Park Jr. High. Organizers estimate that dusk will be around 9:45 p.m., but it’s best to get there as early as possible for good seats.

jwardell@davisclipper.com

See the July 19 edition of the Clipper for an schedule of festival events.