Stay tuned for more information on the next pageant!
Pageant Information
The American Fork History & Heritage Pageant is a longstanding tradition. The pageant highlights our community’s vibrant history and presents live vignettes about people, events, places, etc., in or close by American Fork. It offers a very informative and moving experience of memorable tales from times past! We also have hands-on crafts, old time events, food trucks, and excellent entertainment!
Why We Moved the Pageant from the Cemetery
We’ve had a lot of inquiries and some complaints regarding the decision to move the Pageant from the Cemetery where it had been held for years. We loved the beauty of the setting and the tradition that had been established by holding the Pageant there. So it was with much discussion and a lot of sadness that we came to the decision to move. There were three main factors:
First, we were getting too big for the venue. The cemetery, as beautiful as it is, has limited space for an event like the Pageant. As we planned for growth as our community continues to grow, we knew we had reached our limit there.
Second, our attendees and many members of the community had mixed feelings about holding the pageant in the cemetery. Yes, it was great to be close to the actual graves of the pioneers and other prominent and fascinating people that we were paying tribute to in the vignettes, but there were others who expressed concerns that it was disrespectful that we were holding an event over graves especially if it was their family’s graves. We fully respect both positions.
And lastly, the City and the Cemetery who had also heard many concerns expressed and felt that these were all valid reasons for making a change.
Our Venue Changed but Our Commitment Hasn’t
We have made every effort to continue the great tradition of the History & Heritage Pageant and we are so grateful to be bringing it back this year after the long and difficult experience with 2020.
We will continue to present the popular vignettes of our great founders and forebears from this historic community. We feel it is critical to include the pioneer and other historic demonstrations and crafts of yesteryear so that our children and their children will have a connection to and a respect for the lives and sacrifices of our ancestors.
With the new Cemetery Stories Scavenger Hunt, individuals and families can still stroll through our beautiful and peaceful cemetery and learn about many of the people buried there. This year, we have selected 20 individuals and their stories to share with the public. Check out the information (above right) about how the Scavenger Hunt works and about the opportunity to win prizes for taking the time to learn about and cherish the past.
IN THE PRESS
READ an article about the return of the festival in 2017 at American Fork History and Heritage Pageant returns to share stories by Shelby Slade at The Daily Herald.
All images courtesy of The Daily Herald.