FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2023
For more information: Audra Dominguez, Festival Director
info@wyomingdiscoverydays.org 904-874-2560
PONY EXPRESS, FORGING WITH FIRE, ANTIQUE ENGINES, TIPI 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 5th and 6th, 2023, 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), Jake Gill, Prairie Wildfire
(Casper) and new this year, Christian Wallowing Bull (Wind River Reservation). There will be Wyoming Authors Book Signings, authors will each at their assigned time, talk about what inspires them to write, where they get their subjects and will be available to answer questions and will have signed books for sale. All sales also benefit the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center.
Upon arrival at the event, you may wish to take a horse drawn wagon ride, provided by Mike Cushman, owner of Powder River Percherons. Mike is bringing a beautiful and majestic 6 horse team of dapple grey Percheron draft horses and will be offering rides for donations.
Captain Les Bennington of the Pony Express said, we will have 8 Pony Express riders at Wyoming Discovery Days this year. You may experience a bit of history by having prepared letters, or purchase a special postcard at the event, to be carried from the festival by Pony Express riders, just like in the pioneer days of our country.
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 returning 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. Tom Lucas
(Dubois) will demonstrate flint knapping, bighorn sheep horn bow making, and painting. Hot Springs County Museum is sponsoring a Primitive Camp with a chuckwagon, offering campfire coffee all weekend, and cooking and spinning demos.
Willie Leclair, a storyteller, who has been with the Folk Festival since its inception, passed away in 2023. In Memory of Willie, the Storytelling Circle this year is dedicated to him for his generous contributions and involvement in making the Storytelling Circle such a success. Keeping with the tradition, there is a spectacular line up this year and it is expected to be one of the more popular activities to attend.
Introducing this year the infamous Whiskers Jail House! If you are caught clean shaven, the local sheriff will “arrest” you and a $5 bail donation will get you out of jail. It’ll be a lot of fun and raise money for the Discovery Center to help keep quality entertainment and education coming to the festival. We will also have a Beer Garden for the first time this year. It will be located next to the Tipi Grill.
Bring your own beverage to the Paint & Sip, sponsored by Audra’s Copper Coo, brought to you by Artisan Alley at the Art Activity Tent. There is a minimal cost on Saturday of $45 for the canvas and $35 Sunday for wood on which to paint. The Tipi Retreat is providing a tipi again this year to paint, at no cost. Please stop and add your artistic touch to a Tipi canvas, which will be displayed on the hillside coming out of the canyon into town, after the event.
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.