The Mountain Spirit Heritage Festival will be held on July 25-27, 2008 in Wanship at Rockport State Park, below the dam. The Festival gets its name from the heritage area of the same name that was designated by the state in 2003. It will celebrate the unique pioneer and western heritage for which Summit and Wasatch Counties are known. The event will include a wagon train going down Echo Canyon, old time tractor displays, quilting, fiber arts, telegraph demonstration, heritage artists and crafts, and lots of music.¬ 

On Friday, a wagon train will travel from Echo to Rockport, staying overnight in Coalville and continuing to the festival on Saturday. ¬ ¬ "Echo Canyon played such a significant historical role with the pioneers coming to Utah. Seeing the wagon train in this day and age makes you really appreciate what those pioneers went through to settle Utah. It will be quite a photographic event" said Gordie Wilde, one of the event organizers.

A lot of the musical entertainment will be held inside the renovated Rockport Old Church. This building was built in 1892 and served as the church and social hall for the historic town of Rockport. The Old Church was moved to its present location before the area was flooded for the construction of the Wanship Dam. It has been under renovation for three years and is now available for public rentals and other special events.¬ 

Park Manager Steve Hewson said of the festival: "It is just how I picture things might have been seventy-five years ago in the town of Rockport, people enjoying the church, people having a picnic, enjoying friends and family"

Musicians will perform all weekend. There will be a blue grass music band scramble contest on Saturday where names of the musicians are drawn out of the hat to form a band. The members have a short time to practice then are judged on their musical numbers. Prices will be awarded by the band that the crowd likes the best.

Two public dances will be held each night.¬  Friday, A Contra dance instruction workshop will be held at 7 p.m Friday night for people wanting to learn, with the dance starting at 7:30 p.m. with live music by Loose Shoes and calling by Rob Snow. Saturday night will be ¬ "Dance to the Oldies" with live music from the 1960's by Reunion '65 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.¬  Admission to the dances are included with the admission to the festival.

Working telegraphs demonstrations and presentations will explain the significant events the telegraph has had in history of the area and nation. Quilt displays, weaving, spinning, knitting, Dutch oven events, children hot dog contests and other demonstrations will be given throughout the weekend.¬ 

Cost to get into the park on Friday and Saturday is $5 per person, $12 per car. Sunday admission is free.

The Festival is sponsored by Uinta Headwaters RC & D, Summit County, Summit County RAP Tax, Summit County Restaurant Tax Grant, Blue Sky, Park City Chamber of Commerce, Machine Tools West, Les Olson, and Camp Chef.

Visit the website: http://www.uintaheadwaters.org/heritage.shtml for more information.