The Davis County Commission, through its Commissioners’ Cup golf tournament charity event, awarded $2,500 to the annual August event that draws thousands of people annually to Bountiful.
“This is our 21st year,” said Emma J. Dugal, Bountiful/Davis Art Center executive director, and a major force behind the annual August festival.
She recalled how last year’s festival brought the International Organization for Folk Art & Culture’s convention to Bountiful. That was the first time the Austrian-based group had held such a meeting, particularly in the United States.
It brought hundreds of youth delegates from all over the world, included an exhibition of an ancient loom at the South Davis Recreation Center and featured a culinary arts preparation of an ancient meal from the Asian republic of Azerbaijan.
“Summerfest gives an opportunity for us in Davis County to interact with people from other cultures,” Dugal said. “About 300 people come and stay in peoples’ homes.”
Folk dancers and their instructors/chaperones come from several countries, each year, performing during the festival.
The schedule of events this year includes another ethnic culinary presentation Aug. 4, again to be held at the Davis Applied Technology College in Kaysville; performances at year-round Davis County schools by international dancers and musicians, also that day; a street dance on Bountiful’s Main Street, Aug. 5 and also that day, dance clinics at the Creative Arts Academy in downtown Bountiful.
Other events include the mayor’s reception and opening ceremonies at Bountiful City Park, and Davis Chamber of Commerce Day, Aug. 6; performances at the park, Aug. 7 and Aug. 8; also Aug. 8, chuckwagon breakfast sponsored by First Baptist Church of Bountiful.
Lester B. Lee, local professional artist who also teaches art at Woods Cross High School is this year’s featured artist, and emerging artist is one of his students, Brandi Bixler.
International Featured Artist is Lewis Chidziva, who has exhibited art on the Lost Boys of Sudan and more, at the University of Utah and Utah Valley University, among other sites.
New this year, a Taste of the Town South event, sponsored by the Chamber, will be held Aug. 5. Food from area restaurants will be available, along with the chance to learn a dance and perform with the Summerfest visitors.
“We are trying to make events free, but fund raising is not going as well this year,” Dugal said. “We are scaling back in a couple of areas.
“Summerfest could not happen without the support of the community,” she emphasized. “This event can be enjoyed by everyone, whether as a volunteer, host family to international guests, vendor, sponsor, or coming to the festival.”
“You’ve really brought the world to Davis County,” said County Commissioner Louenda Downs.
Bountiful/Davis Art Center board vice chair Jean Madsen, who was at the commission meeting, was also thanked for her many efforts to support the community, including this event.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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