Old Fashioned Military Days on tap at Heritage Farm

Just in time for Independence Day, Historic Military Days comes to the American West Heritage Center in Wellsvile on June 27-28. Active military and veterans get in free to this event and get a discount on the Military Dinner on June 27. One of northern Utah’s popular summer events, Historic Military Days features old fashioned military camps and exploratory activities from the Mormon Battalion to WWI, with the Civil War and other military times in between. The event will include Gatling gun and vintage cannon demonstrations, as well as Civil War camps and life on the home front during WWI at the Heritage Center’s 1917 working farm. Special guests this year include member re-enactors of the Mormon Battalion, who will have a camp and activities to help visitors explore what the real Mormon Battalion did over 150 years ago. Other activities include regular Daily Adventures hands-on programming, including pony rides, crafts and more with a military twist.

“It’s an event to honor our military, past and present,” explained David Sidwell, Program Director at the Heritage Center. “We want to make it exciting, fun and safe, and we want to alert visitors to the importance of our military through time.”

Of special note is the Military Dinner on Friday, June 27, beginning at 6 pm. There is a discount on the dinner for active military and veterans. The buffet dinner starts with a wagon ride and includes an authentic menu from the Civil War period, made even more delicious by John Simpson at Culinary Concepts, named Utah’s Best Chef in 2007 and winner of several Spice on Ice awards. The dinner will also provide fun “rations” for kids with snacks and other surprises inside. The dinner will present live entertainment, a young Civil War era flute trio starring Cheyann Lind, Kelsi Thunell and Charlotte Sidwell. A lively, old-fashioned party will take place after the dinner. Reservations are required for the feast, and there is a limit, so calling early is a good idea.