5 ways to have fun with your family in Utah County this week
Riders compete during the Lehi Round-Up Rodeo on June 23, 2016, in Lehi.
The newly rebuilt visitor center for Timpanogos Cave National Monument is pictured on Wednesday in American Fork Canyon. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Utah County is a great place for family fun, with events across the valley for all ages.
Here are five fun events that are perfect for the whole family this week:
Head to a city celebration
Is it really summer in Utah without copious amounts of city celebrations, bringing carnivals, rodeos, vendor booths and all sorts of tasty treats to your community? Probably not. The fun continues this week with the conclusion of the Lehi Roundup in Lehi and some preliminary events for the Freedom Festival in Provo.
Plan on Lehi fun including a Western Family BBQ with entertainment, an outdoor movie, Lehi Idol, the Miniature Float Parade, PRCA Rodeo, Chuck Wagon Breakfast and Grand Parade, while Provo’s events will include the Bluegrassroots Timpanogos Folk Festival, Children’s Parade, Patriotic Service and Freedom Awards Gala, with even more consolidated fun set for next week.
Find details on both events at https://heraldextra.com/citycelebrations and https://freedomfestival.org.
Chalk it up
Let the creative juices flow as the Springville Library hosts an all ages Chalk Walk: a giant art project geared toward decorating the sidewalks around the library. All chalk supplies are available for free with treats provided.
If that’s not quite your speed, you can also head to Art in the Park, sponsored by the Neighborhood Art Center – another free chance to get creative with plenty of opportunities for kids of all ages.
When: Bout events run 10 a.m. to noon Thursday
Where: Chalk Walk at Springville Library, 45 S. Main St. in Springville Art in the Park at Bicentennial Park, 1400 S. 1600 East in Provo
Explore Timpanogos Cave
Though construction left Timpanogos Cave inaccessible for the start of the hiking season this year, the national monument is now open to the public, with regular cave tours available up to 30 days in advance online at https://www.nps.gov/tica. Tickets to the tours start at $2 and range to $12 depending on age, with a pretty epic hike from start to finish to enjoy the beautiful landmarks.
If hiking isn’t your forte, there’s also fun to be had driving the Alpine Loop where the Cave is located, or stopping by the Timpanogos Cave National Monument office for a Smokey the Bear and Fire Prevention Junior Ranger Program, a free, family-friendly event.
When: Cave tours run 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. through Sept. 2 with the Junior Rangers Program set for 10-11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 2038 Alpine Loop Road in American Fork
Play with puppets
Whether you’re a professional puppeteer or just looking for something fun to do this weekend, Saturday is your chance with Puppets in the Park.
Throughout the event, free puppet shows will be scheduled, while kids can experience creating their own original puppet character at the “Make It Take It” area. Other features include handmade puppets and other items for sale by the Puppetry Arts Guild of Utah with a variety of puppets on display.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Orchard at University Place, 575 E. University Parkway in Orem
Eat kolaches
There’s no better way to spend the weekend than with all you can eat kolaches at the new Hruska’s Kolaches location in American Fork for Kolache Fest. If you’ve never had a kolache before, this is a great chance to discover what you like by tasting a variety of tiny kolaches – either delicious bready pockets packed with savory deliciousness like eggs and bacon or sweet breads topped with fruits and more. The Fest is just $5 per person who can walk, and you can top off a great morning with a great afternoon of playing in a local park or splash pad.
When: 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: Hruska’s Kolaches, 11 W. Main St. in American Fork