The annual Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival is going to be in full swing on Helper’s historic Main Street beginning Thursday, August 18 and running till Sunday, August 21. The 20-year festival has been able to expose and promote working artists both in arts, music and film.
On Thursday evening beginning at 6:00 pm there will be the Car Show Cruise on First West and Main Street. Guests can take a gallery stroll along Main Street to check out local artists inside the galleries. Price City Culture Connection will bring their usual Thursday evening entertainment to Helper for the festival and will feature The Deltaz performing at the Main Stage. Dessert Wine along with Best Young Chef, Lyn Wells will be serving award winning desserts in the galleries and Western Mining and Railroad Museum. Any kids age 5 years to 13 years can get in on the action by picking up a form at any of the galleries to participate in a scavenger hunt, completed forms will be turned in at Happiness Within for a chance to win prizes.
Friday will begin at 10:00 am with a video workshop at Balance Rock Eatery. The galleries will open at 12:00 pm and film showings will be held throughout the day inside the Rio Theatre beginning at 1:00 pm and are free to the public. A few films being featured that may be of interested to the community is The Bo Huff: A Documentary of his Life will show at 2:30 pm and In Football We Trust, which is the documentary of four young Polynesian men from Salt Lake City pursing their dreams of playing American Football. The musical line up for Friday starts at 1:00 pm on the main stage and will feature acts Shovelhead Jack, Terence Hansen, Split Decision, Advent Horizon and High Octane. The Car Show Burnout will also be held on Friday evening beginning at 6:00 pm at the Helper City Park.
Kids Art Yard will be featured on both Friday, August 19 at 2:00 pm till 6:00 pm and Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 am till 11:30 am, they will have lots of fun, hands-on activities planned for the kids.
Saturday, August 20 will kick off with the Clampers Breakfast at the Pavilion on 100 West, the proceeds from this event will go to purchase local historical plaques. A video workshop will be held again at Balance Rock Eatery at 10:00 am. Festival will open at 10:00 am with galleries opened and musical numbers beginning at 12:30 pm at the main stage. Bands featured on Saturday will be The Krew, Brother Chunky, The Deltaz, Rhythm Addicts and Natural Causes.
A few new additions have been made to the festival this year, the Flamboyant Flamingo Float beginning at 8:30 am and taking place at the riverwalk; the race starts at hanging bridge and will finish at the sand bar. A Doubles Horseshoe Tournament will take place at 10:00 am at the Helper City Park at 10:00 am and a Hip Hop Workshop will start at 10:30 am for 5 to 12 year olds, 1:30 for 12 to 18 years old and finish off with a hip hop dance off at the main stage at 4:00 pm.
Sunday, August 21 will be another breakfast sponsored by the Clampers at the Pavilion. Guests can enjoy Yoga in the city park at 9:00 am. Festival will open for its last day at 10:00 am, galleries will open at 12:00 pm. Awards for the featured films will be awarded at 11:00 am and festival will close at 2:00 pm.
To see a complete schedule of the festival, visit their website at http://www.helperartsfest.com/index.html