Giving Machines start accepting donations for local and worldwide charities

From now through the end of the year, Light The World Giving Machines will be ready to accept donations at their typical location in front of Dillards at University Place in Orem.

The machines are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They work like this: Instead of someone buying something for themselves, their purchase is a donation for someone in need.

According to the church, this year’s machines will offer 1,200 unique gift options across all locations — 61 in total spread out around the globe, more than double the 28 put out last year. Some of the donations include meals, groceries, shelter, clothing, health care, education, bedding, hygiene kits, job and career training, crops and livestock.

If desired, users can even type in “777” to purchase one of everything in a machine.

The theme of this year’s Light the World Christmas initiative is “Let Your Light Shine.”

Utah County is known for its giving and often is the top donation getter in the lineup of Giving Machines worldwide.

Last year, the local giving was substantial. About $1.1 million came through the Orem machines. Thousands of Utah County residents, and even more people worldwide, were fed, clothed and cared for in 2023 because of donations made at the Giving Machines in Orem.

This year, 10 local charities will be part of the giving as well as several international options. Local charities include Community Action Services and Food Bank, Tabitha’s Way, United Way of Utah County, Family Haven, Centro Hispano, RAH, Show UP, Refuge and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

“We are fortunate here in Utah County to have such great charities to choose from and work with,” said Mark Seastrand, local Giving Machines committee member. “Each year, we research and review these charities to identify a good variety of services and products that are offered for the needs of our local community. We also work with selected international charities to help those in need in other parts of the world.”

Seastrand said this is done so families and individuals making donations find things important to them that they want to give to others.

“Lighting the world begins with giving something important to you for someone else,” Seastrand said. “It can identify different needs and can direct the donation to those needs people want to help.”

Many times, people want to donate or help but don’t know how or where the help is needed, according to Seastrand.

“By working with these charities that are so good at providing help every day,” he said, “we are able to identify the greatest needs and get the resources to where it’s needed most. The donations from the Giving Machines go directly to the source that can best provide the desired benefit.”

“This community sets the standard of giving, both in time and financial means. We really appreciate the volunteers, the organizations that support this effort and especially the people who give so generously to help our community and people in need. It’s not just the funding that comes from the process, it’s the community working together to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends,” he added.

According to the church, donations to Giving Machines in 2022 provided 2.2 million meals; 31 million water purification tablets, or enough to purify 3.9 million gallons of water; vaccinations for 517,000 children; 41,000 chickens; school supplies for 28,000 children; 25,000 ducks; safe shelter for 3,400 people; scholarships for 3,000 children and teens; shoes, socks and warm winter clothing for 35,000 children and adults; 3,800 beehives; and protection for 459 women and children from further domestic violence or child abuse.

During the 2023 Christmas season, Light the World Giving Machines can be found in 42 U.S. cities, including Orem and Salt Lake City, as well as six other countries.

More than 250 local and global nonprofits are participating this year — more than all previous years combined, the church noted.

Those unable to visit a physical machine can participate at GivingMachine.org.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The giving machines program run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of its “Light the World” initiative is expanding this year, as the machines spread to twice as many cities as the previous Christmas season.

The church announced on Friday the machines, which mimic vending machines but allow people to buy items for others, will be located in 61 cities, including at the City Creek Mall in Salt Lake City and the University Place Mall in Orem, beginning Nov. 20.

Almost one-third of the machines will be located internationally in Mexico, Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines.

Chickens bring transformation

Mary Concepter Obiero, the director of relief development and protection for Church World Service Africa, said at a press conference on Friday that she represents about 20,000 communities that have benefited from the giving machines.

“The impact that this project has had is huge,” she said, emphasizing the outcomes are fast.

Obiero spoke about one community in Tanzania where 90 women were given three chicks each. One year later, the women had 5,000 chickens, helping children go to school and be fed.

She said the chicks brought a transformation that can only be explained by God’s word.

Now the program buys chicks from these women who are currently getting about 6,000 eggs each day from their hens.

The giving machines also help Church World Service Africa provide beehives and goats. Obiero said because they give goats to women, for the first time men talk to women about the livestock, and men have reported it “brought love and unity” to their families.

Karl Cheney, a member of the church’s missionary department, said he had opportunities to travel with representatives from organizations with products in the machines, including Obiero. He said the lives of the people they visited “are absolutely changing for good, simply because people are participating in this initiative.”

Small donations have a big impact

Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, said both the giver and the receiver are transformed by the experience. She said giving machines often have lines of individuals and families who want to give and are excited about it. She said people never fully grasp the effect of their giving.

In the seven years giving machines have been available, she said about 1.5 million people have donated over $22 million. She said because of the interest in the machines, the program will likely continue to grow.

Sister Wright said one of her favorite things to donate at the machines is water. At the machines, people can purchase water bottles to drink or give away, or water purification tablets for people around the world.

She said people are never more like Jesus Christ than when they are doing something for others.

“We have a sacred responsibility … to help reignite (the light of Christ) in each others’ lives so that receiver and giver will come to know together, in that moment, the full measure of their divine worth,” she said.

Sister Wright said the Light the World initiative is a wonderful opportunity for members to look beyond themselves and share God’s love during the Christmas season. She hopes people learn to be creative about how they give, like the giving machines.

“It doesn’t need to be big. If we’ve learned anything from this, (it’s that) small and simple things can impact the world in a big way,” she said.

Joy from giving

Elder William K. Jackson, general authority seventy of the church, said there are people everywhere with an “innate desire to serve,” but they often don’t know where to donate — the giving machines can help.

“What we’re looking forward to this year is an even greater, fruitful experience for our brothers and sisters around the globe. Regardless of their socioeconomic status, they will have the opportunity to experience the joy and the fulfillment that comes from helping anonymously … another member of our human family,” he said.

At some point, Elder Jackson said he would love to have giving machines available online. He said the machines are not just for members, who can donate through the church at any point, but everyone.

“This is an opportunity to … enlarge our net a little bit and bring a lot of our other fabulous brothers and sisters around the world into this, as well, to give them the opportunity to give and to share,” he said.

Elder Jackson said purchasing an item from the machine last year was “uplifting” because he knew someone else would benefit.

He said organizations have agreed to not use more than 10% of the funds for overhead costs. The church is partnering with over 250 nonprofits to provide 1,200 different items people can purchase for others.

Jessica Kendrick, director of outreach with Lifting Hands International, said because of the giving machines her program is going to be able to provide immediate aid to refugees, including hygiene kits, sanitary pads and diapers; food and medical supplies to people in Ukraine; and goats to Syrian refugees in Jordan.

She said the goats allow refugees to use the milk now, and eventually build a herd of goats and become financially stable enough to leave the refugee camp.

In each hygiene kit, Kendrick said the program includes a handwritten card, and often those cards stay with the receiver longer than the bottle of shampoo.

“People keep those cards because they just feel so appreciated and like they’re not alone in their journey anymore, and that’s what the giving machine does,” she said.

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At the city of Orem’s annual Truck or Treat event, there were more sweets than scares.

“Halloween is just a great time of year to celebrate as a community,” event coordinator Karina Eckern said.

Truck or Treat returned to University Place this past weekend. 10-year-old Roman Shepherdson liked the crane more than the candy.

“Actually, the crane. The crane you get to ride on and go up to the sky. Yeah, I went about a hundred feet high,” Shepherson said.

Not every kid wanted all of the bells and whistles, though. Event coordinators designated the first hour of the event as “sensory needs hour.”

“We do want those who have … sensitivity disabilities to be able to enjoy the event just as much as anyone else,” Eckern said.

Bree McMullan, who came to the event from Wyoming, said the family-friendly event didn’t have any “extreme spooks” for younger kids.

Police said they wanted kids to see them as more sweet than scary.

“We hope that they remember a positive experience with police officers,” Officer Anneliese Langs said. “Especially with kids, letting them know that we’re a safe place if they’re ever lost or anything like that.”

It looked like lots of kids left the event with that impression. Event coordinators expected a turnout of around 3,000 people.

“I think from all the smiling faces, they were pretty happy about it,” Eckern said.

Read full article here.

Principle 5: Empowerment not entitlement

The steam engine, the assembly line, the light bulb, the airplane and the internet: in the annals of human progress, certain innovations have transcended their original purpose to become transformative agents of economic change, reshaping entire industries and fundamentally altering the way societies function.

At the heart of a free-market economy lies the entrepreneurial spirit, where individuals and businesses seek opportunities to create and offer value to consumers and shareholders. Innovation provides the essential spark that ignites entrepreneurial and thought-leadership endeavors.

The entrepreneurial spirit can exist in a company whether there are two, 200, or 20,000 employees. The hallmarks of innovation include a desire to solve problems, meet unmet needs, and improve existing products or services. Through innovation, organizations create new solutions that drive economic growth, job creation, and increased competition.

Contrast this to entitlement practices and heavy government intervention, which can stifle ingenuity and often breeds an environment of inefficiency and complacency, hindering the very innovation that is vital for a thriving and forward-looking society.

From the Magna Carta to the U.S. Constitution, mankind has been building, innovating, creating, reinventing and establishing a new country with upgraded values, principles, and laws. It may still be just an experiment, but it has lasted over 200 years.

More importantly, other countries have taken the creative play book from the U.S. Constitution and have formed their own constitutions and lifted their countries to a higher plane through innovative thought.

While businesses today may not be looking at something as grandiose as building a civilization, the idea and principle is the same: think of the future and innovate.

While the world still experiences the outcomes drawn by the Founding Fathers, the drive for renewal, updating and innovating is elusive. While some businesses cling to the familiarity of old ideas and comfortable perspectives, other companies are forging ahead, introducing new products, services, and work experiences.

Utah multi-generational business embodies innovation

The Woodbury Corporation, a multi-generational business headquartered in Millcreek, is such a company. The Woodbury Corporation owns the popular University Place campus in Orem between Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University.

Once a sprawling, inside shopping experience, the Woodbury Corporation needed to keep up with the current culture and ever-changing shopping experience. Gone are the days of ordinary malls. They added a hotel, several apartments, class A offices, restaurants and a Trader Joes. University Place is a generation or two (and several innovative ideas) out from the old University Mall of the 1980s.

Recently, Woodbury joined forces with Flagship Construction to form Flagborough, a joint venture that will be building a several hundred-acre development in Vineyard from the ground up.

In discussing several examples of doing something because “that’s always how it’s been done,” Jeff Woodbury noted, “We must avoid the easy approach of erecting societies that want to stay in the past. Doing so doesn’t help us get to the future.”

Flagborough’s joint venture Utah City is designed for constant innovation and growth as the future changes. It is people, lifestyle, and environment centric. It is both new and progressive in what it wants to accomplish.

When it comes to innovation and Utah City, it’s all about the people. Woodbury explained “We are trying to make a healthier community with intentional spaces for walking to exercise, expanding their minds, helping children play and making it a powerful place. We are trying to create the best apartments in the state. We are trying to create amenities and things that are inclusive.”

Pete Evans on the Flagship side of the construction said one of the reasons they partnered with Woodbury Corporation is their innovative and family-centric approach in everything they do. Evans said, “They have a generational track record right here in Utah and in other states that showcase their housing and holistic lifestyle solutions. This development will be an urban core with transportation access.”

Innovation has long been the driving force behind economic growth and prosperity. It empowers individuals and businesses to compete in a free-market environment, while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls of entitlement practices and big government intervention.

“We have a lot of opportunity here to really solve critical housing issues,” Woodbury said. “People are afraid to start engaging, but what they have to remember is that innovation gives power to generate real solutions.”

“We can stay with the same old way of doing things and have the same old pollution, schools getting crowded, roads becoming increasingly congested etc.,” Evans said. “But innovation is about creating an environment and lifestyle you want, while preserving our precious resources; life is elevated when we lean on innovation.”

In talking about entitlements, Woodbury said he thinks that one of the problems with entitlements is they lack creativity, innovation, and long-term, positive change.

“Innovation promotes self-reliance by encouraging individuals to take initiative and find creative solutions to their challenges. In contrast, entitlement practices, such as excessive government welfare, can foster a culture of dependency,” Woodbury said.

When people rely on government handouts, they may lose the motivation to work and innovate. By emphasizing innovation and entrepreneurship, we can help people become self-sufficient and less reliant on government assistance.

The dynamic and robust entrepreneurship in Utah Valley is a positive example of creating and innovating. It has empowered several companies, both big and small, to offer better products, services, and workplace environments. It continues to be an example of growing the principles of prosperity.

Read full article here.

OREM, Utah — Milkshake lovers, buckle up. A dessert bar known for towering, over-the-top treats is coming to The Beehive State.

Have you ever wanted a giant milkshake with a piece of cheesecake on top? How about a milkshake with the outer cup rolled in tiny cookies? Or a milkshake with a cupcake balancing precariously on the edge of a frosted mug?

"We are thrilled to bring The Yard Milkshake Bar to the vibrant community of Orem," said Ben, Owner of The Yard Milkshake Bar Orem, Utah in a statement. "Our goal is to provide a one-of-a-kind dessert experience that combines innovation with the pure joy of indulgence. Each milkshake we craft is a work of art that not only delights the taste buds but also captures the imagination."

The spirit of Halloween is found within the decorations Utah residents put up each year to make their homes both spooky and fun. These decorations earned Utah first place in a study by Lombardo Homes for the most Halloween decorations across the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Halloween in Utah was not always this way, said Rob Ethington, owner and creator of Haunted Forest. Celebrating 34 years of haunting, the Haunted Forest was a part of making Utah Valley into the Halloween-spirited county it is today, he said.

When Ethington was in college he realized he had never seen an outdoor haunt, so he decided to create one. While some haunted houses are more intense with actors being able to touch visitors, Ethington said, “We are built for the average person and family to come and just have a blast with their kids and their friends.”

Haunted Forest is an entirely outdoor trail that covers more than 30 acres and takes about an hour to walk through. Located next to Utah Lake, the natural ambiance of a haunted forest is created by the trees winding overhead and lining the trail; a river winding through the forest; wooden structures representing an old-fashioned town for visitors to walk through; tractors and cars naturally decorated with cobwebs and decay; and a working water wheel that powers one section of the forest.

When the Haunted Forest began, there were other small haunted houses in the area, but Ethington explained his attraction helped to elevate the Halloween season by taking Utah County to the “mega-haunt level,” along with some of the other major spook houses running today.

A few decades ago, Ethington said, people in Utah were clamoring for a major haunted house. So to meet the demand, proprietors began doing things people had never seen before, “and it just kept going and going and going until now Halloween is a big deal in Utah.”

Each year, the Haunted Forest adds something new so people can return for new scares.

Ethington said one of the funnest parts of operating the business is seeing people coming together on a fall night and wondering if they’ll be able to handle the Haunted Forest or seeing friends and family scare each other as they wait in line. “To see the smiles on people’s faces and the fun atmosphere, it’s kind of rewarding,” he said.

“That was what our goal was, is to make it a mega-haunt that people could come to and celebrate Halloween in the fall,” he added.

As the budding fall season unfolds, the Daily Herald has compiled a list of activities including haunted houses, decorated yards, pumpkin patches and city celebrations. Each Friday in October, a list of the coming week’s events and season-long activities will be released to keep readers updated and in the autumn spirit. Happy Halloween!

Recurring seasonal activities

Haunted houses:

• Insanity Point Extreme at Cornbelly’s Lehi location, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, is open every Friday, Saturday and Monday until Oct. 30. They feature a 40-minute walking path where participants can experience over 23 haunted scenes.
• Evermore Park in Pleasant Grove, 382 S. Evermore Lane, is transformed during the fall season into “Lore,” a Halloween wonderland with new characters and quests. Once the sun sets, the haunted adventure begins to heighten the scariness of the park. Evermore is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6-11 p.m.
• Haunted Forest in American Fork, 6000 W. 6400 North, is one of the largest haunted attractions in the country with “over 30 acres of fear” to walk through. The haunt is all outside and the path goes through natural trees. Haunted Forest is open until Oct. 31, from 7:30-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
• Field of Fright is a haunted maze located inside of the real corn field at Glen Ray’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Spanish Fork, 1750 W. 8000 South. The Field of Fright runs until Oct. 28. Admission starts at dark. On Monday and Tuesday, visitors must be in line by 9:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday by 10:30 p.m. Check their website for additional dates.
• The Shadows of Fear haunted maze in Pleasant Grove, 618 N. County Blvd., is open Monday through Saturday for all of October. Friday and Saturday hours are 7:30-11 p.m. and Monday through Thursday hours are 7:30-10 p.m. This haunt is for thrill seekers and family time. Tuesdays are no-spook days except for on Oct. 31, when they stay open until 11 p.m.
• Strangling Brothers Utah Haunted Circus is located at 632 E. 1500 South in American Fork and will be open until Oct. 31 with varying hours. Before the main haunt begins, visitors wait inside a circus tent to see a show including live music, games, videos, crowd interactions and possibly the Strangling Brothers riding their motorcycles. Each Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., the circus is open for walk throughs with the lights on and without the scary actors.
• The Haunted Halloween Haven in Spanish Fork, 1641 Oakview Lane, is an outdoor haunt appropriate for all ages. It is free for all and is open every night in October from 7:30-10 p.m. regardless of the weather. No reservations are required and any number of people can enter at once. There is also a 25-minute projection-mapping show each night.

Home haunts/decorated yards:

• Explore Utah Valley put together a map of homes and businesses across the valley that have been decorated for Halloween, including a free Big Jack coloring book/scavenger hunt map at the Outlets at Traverse Mountain. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3tj3Ziy.

Pumpkin patches/corn mazes/fresh produce:

• Cornbelly’s has locations in Lehi (3003 N. Thanksgiving Way)and Spanish Fork (3687 W. 5600 South). Both locations offer family-friendly events and activities, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze until Oct. 28. Cornbelly’s is open Monday through Thursday from 4-9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 1-10 p.m. The Spanish Fork location also offered a Sunflower Festival from Sept. 8-30. While Sunflower season officially ended, it is likely to run through mid-October, so the fields are still open to visitors. Pumpkin season started in October.
• Glen Ray’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is located at 1750 W. 8000 South in Spanish Fork and will be open through Oct. 30. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays. They offer family-friendly events and activities, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch.
• The Pumpkin Patch in Orem, 1541 Sandhill Road, has free activities and no admission fee. They have pumpkins and decor for sale, and every Monday and Saturday they offer free Halloween hayrides. Reservations for rides can be made on their website. They are open until Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. to dark on Sundays.
• Gordon’s Family Farm offers a pumpkin patch and activities through the end of October called Gordo’s Fun Farm. Located at 5746 S. 3200 West St. in Spanish Fork, this pumpkin patch also has a petting zoo and a corn maze. It is open Monday through Friday noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove, 150 S. 2000 West/N. County Blvd., is open from 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays. They offer a pumpkin patch, pumpkin drop event, kids spook alley, pumpkin patch hayride and other activities.
• Jaker’s Jack-O-Lanterns at Hayward Farms located at 950 W. 400 South in Springville has pumpkins to buy, a hayride, a corn “maize” and a haunted cave. They are open through the end of October, from 9 a.m. to dusk Monday through Saturday, except Oct. 31, when they are open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• The Pumpkin Patch – Carlisle Gardens is located at 1200 N. County Blvd. in American Fork. Pumpkins are available at the front stand and in the field to pick out. They have a kiddie train, hay ride train and a petting zoo with farm animals. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tyler’s Pumpkin Patch in Provo, 1036 S. Nevada Ave., is a family-owned pumpkin patch. They are open until Oct. 31 while supplies last. Weekday hours are 4 p.m. to dusk and weekend hours are 10 a.m. to dusk.
• A Country Farm Pumpkin Patch in Payson, 4058 W. 9600 South, is a homegrown farm that offers fresh produce picked daily upon order or visitors can pick it themselves. They are open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
• Rowley’s Red Barn, 901 S. 300 West, is a fruit farm open year-round in Santaquin. The fall festival is held through Oct. 30 and includes a corn maze, a tractor wagon ride, a pumpkin patch and other activities such as a petting zoo, zip line and a corn pit. It is open Monday through Friday from 3:30-8:45 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
• Rileys’ U-pick in Genola, 294 N. 800 East, has pumpkins, fresh fruit and other produce available at the local Rileys’ Orchard. It is open during harvest season (July through November), Monday through Saturday from sunup to sundown.

Activities for Oct. 6-14

• Eagle Mountain Halloween Town is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cory Wride Memorial Park, 5806 Pony Express Parkway. The event offers trick-or-treating at local businesses, vendors, a classic car show and food trucks. Halloween costumes are encouraged. At 7:30 p.m., the park’s Mid-Valley Soccer Field will turn into a drive-in movie theater featuring “Hocus Pocus.”
• The Saratoga Springs Fall Festival will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Shay Park, 516 W. Aspen Hills Blvd. There will be a petting zoo, train rides, trick-or-treating, food trucks, inflatables and the Community Fair. Wristbands are available for purchase for the Inflatable Alley and the petting zoo; other activities are free.
• Presented by the Timpanogos Community Theater, “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” will be performed beginning Friday through Oct. 21 at the Valentine Theater, 839 E. 9th North in American Fork.
• A free concert at the American Fork Library, 64 S. 100 East, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Timpanogos Singers and Youth Choirs will be performing billboard hits for all attending.
• The American Fork Symphony will hold its Halloween concert at 7 p.m. Monday. Costumes are encouraged by attendees and wil be worn by performers. It will be held at the American Fork Junior High School auditorium, 20 W. 1120 North.
• Nordic Harvest Market is a new festival coming to The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem, featuring culture from the Nordic countries through food, fresh produce, home goods and traditional dances. It will be held Friday from 4-8 p.m.
• “Hotel Transylvania” is showing at the Scary Movie Night to be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday outside at The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem. The movie will begin around 7:15 p.m. Popcorn will be handed out for free and warm apple cider will be for sale.
• A Halloween Spooktacular will be held from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 13 at The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem. There will be live music, dancers using real fire, free face painting, yard games, a mechanical bull and warm apple cider for sale.
• Until Oct 31, The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem, will light up each night with nearly 750 carved pumpkins. There are six special Utah-themed pumpkins hidden among the others for visitors to find.
• From Oct. 13-28, a straw bale slide will be set up for little kids in The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem, during shopping hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Laughing Owl Greenhouses in Benjamin, 7965 S. 2200 West, is holding its fall festival starting this Saturday and continuing Oct. 14 and 21. The Fall Farmers Market goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are also kids activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. such as bounce houses, slides, a petting zoo and picking out pumpkins. Admissions is $5 per child over 2 years old.
• Sage Creek Barn in Genola, 139 E. 400 South, is holding its Fall Boutique and Farmer’s Market on Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. Pumpkins and produce, holiday crafts, jewelry, homemade baked goods and more will be for sale at the market.
• Pleasant Grove Viking Day will be held Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Downtown Park, 200 S. Main St. Visitors will experience a strongman competition, ax throwing, local crafters, shopping, food trucks and live entertainment.
• The Scarecrow Spectacular put on by Mapleton City will be held Saturday afternoon at Mapleton City Park, at the corner of Maple and Main streets. There will be scarecrows to walk amongst and cast votes on, as well as a bake-off, Great Pumpkin growing contest, face painting and food trucks. Everyone is invited to make a one-of-a-kind scarecrow for the competition. Visit https://bit.ly/3teY6CS to register a scarecrow or enter the bake-off. The scarecrows will be on display at the park until the end of October.

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OREM — The third annual African Heritage Festival is returning to University Place in Orem this weekend to showcase a variety of African cultures from over 20 different countries.

The free festival is Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees can enjoy storytelling, music, dance, poetry, art, cultural activities and vendors — ranging from Conolese Cafe and Best of Africa performance group to a “kid’s zone” with free children’s books to take home.

The festival is organized by Ngoma y’Africa Cultural Center, a nonprofit that preserves African cultures and provides a support network for Utah families of African descent. Last year the festival saw about 3,500 attendees and organizers hope to see 5,000 this year.

“The African Heritage festival is an annual celebration that not only gathers members of the African diaspora in Utah, but is also a space and occasion for people to come and experience African culture,” Ngoma y’Africa Executive Director Yvonne Nsabimana said in a video promoting the event.

Read full article here.

OREM, UTAH (GOOD THINGS UTAH) — Yvonne Nsabimana and Reginald Maonedzo from the African Heritage Festival joined us on the show to share about the annual cultural celebration coming to Utah county. The festival aims to showcase the richness, traditions, and values of the African continent through an array of captivating elements such as storytelling, music, dance, poetry, cuisine, history, languages, art, and crafts.

The African Heritage Festival hopes to foster cultural and historical awareness, appreciation, and understanding. The festival serves as a platform to promote social support, tolerance, community integration, and cooperation while encouraging social bonding, cohesion, reciprocity, and service.

Set to take place on June 3rd, 2023, from 2-8 pm, The Orchard at University Place in Orem will transform into a vibrant hub of African culture. The event is free for the public to attend, however any donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the costs of the festival. Contributions can be made through Venmo @ngomayafricacc or PayPal paypal.me/ngomayafricacc.

For more information about the festival, visit the website www.culturelearningcenter.org and follow along on social media @ngomayafricacc.

Read full article here.