The Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival has a rich history of twenty plus years bringing the arts to not only Helper, but surrounding areas as well. The Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival’s mission is to encourage art and culture in Carbon County, support the local artist community, stimulate and enrich the local economy through the arts, and to educate and give access to art for everyone, regardless of income level or art experience. The Festival endeavors to not only put on a great Festival, but to bring the arts to the community throughout the year as much as possible.
This year the festival runs from August 16-19 on Helper’s Main Street, a unique venue that is reminiscent of the 20s and 30s in the twentieth century.
On August 16 there will be a gallery stroll at 7 p.m. which features all of the local professional art galleries. Entertainment in the street will be Route 89 brought to you by the Helper Arts, Music and Film Festival, Price City Culture Connection & Utah State University Eastern. Desserts and drinks provided by individual galleries. A film festival will also run in the Rio Theater starting at 8 p.m.
On Friday the 17th the festival begins at 2 p.m. with the booths in the street and entertainment in the park going. The film festival will continue. There is also a children’s art yard. There will also be a burnout competition in connection with the next days car show.
On Saturday the festival really breaks out as entertainment and many more activities take place. A 5K Run will begin at 7 a.m. There is a breakfast at 8 a.m along with the car show registration and show beginning later that morning. The festival opens at 10 a.m. and the film festival will continue at the Rio Theater. There will be entertainment all day and roam street performances will take place up and down Main Street. At 1 p.m. The Castle Valley Acting Company will present the musical The Pirates of Penzance in the Rio Theater. Much of the Main Street activity will run until 11:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the final day of the festival, the day begins with another benefit breakfast and then the festival starts at 10 a.m. There will be more films at the Rio Theater and entertainment will run through mid-afternoon.
Of all the events that take place in Castle County, this is often the most comprehensive and well attended. It is also one of the final truly summer events with school beginning at both the public schools in the area and at USU Eastern.