FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2022
For more information: Audra Dominguez, Festival Director
info@wyomingdiscoverydays.org 904-874-2560
FORGING WITH FIRE, ANTIQUE ENGINES, TEPEE PAINTING AND MORE DURING WYOMING DISCOVERY DAYS IN HOT SPRINGS STATE PARK FIRST WEEK-END IN AUGUST
Wyoming Discovery Days, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7 in Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis, Wyoming celebrates Wyoming’s unique cultural heritage through stories, music, food, art, and demonstrations. “There will be lots going on both days and there will be new things added too” according to Audra Dominguez, Festival Director.
Dominguez noted the addition of new demonstrators, a Dachshund Race, the Rocky Mountain Food Faire with plenty of food and drinks, music with Jalan Crossland (Ten Sleep) and also Prairie Wildfire (Casper) and new on Sunday, Wyoming Authors Book Signings. Authors, each at their assigned time, will talk about what inspires them to write, where they get their subjects and will be available to answer question. Each will have signed books for sale. All sales also benefit the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center.
The lineup of demonstrators showcases a multitude of talent from Wyoming’s hands-on traditions. There will be demonstrations from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Among the new participants this year is David Osmundsen, Arrowhead Forge School of Blacksmithing (Buffalo). He’ll be joined by John Holmes (Thermopolis) and his trailers full of antique engines that shuck corn, run a Maytag washing machine and bring back memories and spark new interests in engines. See the sheep wagons that Wyoming’s sheepmen lived in, on display from John Gerrells (Thermopolis). Tom Lucas (Dubois) will demonstrate flint knapping, big horn sheep horn bow making, and painting.
Rachel Turner (Thermopolis) has been handed down the art of textiles and rug braiding through her family’s history. Come learn the steps it takes to braid your own rug. Watch the Tipi Retreat (Thermopolis) put up a tipi on Saturday morning at 10am and watch it taken down Sunday evening at 5pm. The Tipi Retreat is also providing a tipi to paint. You may stop by and paint your story on the Tepee cover. Meet Ceaser (an African Grey) and Marley (a Moluccan Cockatoo) and their human Ro Dominquez at the petting zoo on Sunday at 11am to learn about the Life Of A Bird. Ongoing demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday will include Kevin Mosser (Thermopolis) with a display about the geology of Hot Springs County. Rockhounds are invited to come and look at his rock and fossil collection. Worland Wyoming Woodturners will showcase the art of woodturning and how to make bowls, vases, and other items from wood. Darrell Lonebear (Fort Washakie) will be demonstrating drum making and how to make ceremonial rawhide rattles.
The festival is open to the public without charge. Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming Humanities Council, and the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund have provided special funding to help with the event. There is additional funding from local and state sponsors including the public and private sector.
The festival is held the same weekend as the Gift of the Waters Pageant Days. The Pageant tells how the hot springs were given to the state by the Native Americans from the Wind River Reservation. It will be performed starting around 6 pm in the area around the Big Spring on Saturday and Sunday evening.
A complete Wyoming Discovery Days Folk Festival schedule is now available at wyomingdiscoverydays.org. Schedule subject to change.
Contact info@wyomingdiscoverydays.org for specific inquiries or visit wyomingdiscoverydays.org. Look for Festival Information at the tepee on the festival grounds
————————*—————–