Discovery Days full of activities

Wyoming Discovery Days, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8 in Hot Springs State Park continues and expands on the former Big Horn Basin Folk Festival. With a theme of Wyoming Rails, Trails and Folk Tales, the Wyoming Discovery Days will celebrate Wyoming’s unique cultural heritage through stories, music, food, art, and demonstrations. There will be new demonstrators,  a petting zoo, and a beer garden this year.

The lineup of demonstrators showcases a multitude of talent from Wyoming’s hands-on traditions on both Saturday and Sunday. There will be demonstrations from roughly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  

Ongoing demonstrators on Saturday and Sunday will include Robert Haislip showing how to tie flies and how to build a fly rod and a fly casting demonstration.  Kevin Mosser will have a display about the geology of Hot Springs County and rockhounds.  Worland Woodturners will showcase the art of woodturning and how to make bowls, vases, and

other items.  Von Ringler will be demonstrating leather work and will do a children’s art activity of making a leather bookmark or a leather bracelet.  Darrell Lonebear will be demonstrating drum making and singing sweat lodge songs.  The Hot Tong Welders will demonstrate how to smelt metal. Pete Weisbeck will display and talk about his hand made boat and handmade ice boat. A special treat will feature Tom Christensen’s cast iron cooking.  

Saturday’s program will include Megan Corcoran with make it and take it art activities. V, The Gypsy Cowbelle will lead a play and sing along with handmade instruments. Darrell Lonebear will share and teach Northern Arapahoe Sweat Lodge Songs. Rob Buckner will teach participants how to rope. Rachel Moon will lead a make and take for a traditional string doll.

The festival is open to the public without charge.  Visit the website for continuing updates  wyomingdiscoverydays.org or contact info@wyomingdiscoverydays.org with specific inquiries.