102 YEARS TeTon Valley news - May 12, 2011 - Page a1

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Tanner Street clears the bar in the high jump at a track meet in Driggs Wednesday. Teton is getting ready to host the 3A District Tournament May 12 and 13.

TVN Photo/Rachael Horne

Rachael HorneTVN Staff

Last year Glenn Beck drew about 6,000 people to the Huntsman Springs property in Driggs as part of the Celebrate America event. This year the family has amped up the celebration with a slew of activities and the return of Beck.

This year’s event will be on July 2 and include a fireworks extravaganza, a performance by the Navy Band Northwest, an air show, car show, comedy hypnotist, bouncy houses, dunk tanks, sumo wrestling, basketball and sand volleyball tournaments, a BMX bike show and a pie eating contest among other activities.

Last year, Beck, a popular radio host and former TV personality on Fox News, was met with both criticism and praise. The political pundit champions conservative opinions and his programs are often faith-based opinion.

Huntsman Springs is again saying this year’s performance will be “non-political.” Last year the Teton county Democratic Party put out a call to assemble against Beck’s performance and started a letter-writing campaign. They even planned a protest, but later decided his performance wasn’t worth it.

Last year Beck mostly talked about America’s founding history, starting with Christopher Columbus and working his way to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. He also talked about the need to keep biblical principals, faith and prayer in the American way of life.

Beck has been to Huntsman Springs several times, and David

Huntsman said last year he wanted to celebrate the Fourth of July in a small town.

Juxtaposed to this year’s event will again be the rock band Widespread Panic. The band is playing a three-day festival at Grand Targhee July 1-3. Last year the band played on the fourth of July at the Spud Drive-In the day after Beck’s performance at Huntsman Springs.

Grand Targhee is expecting about 5,000 people per day at the festival. A shuttle from Driggs will run thorough the event and onsite camping is still available. The lodging at the resort is sold out and parking will be limited.

This year Widespread will be joined by Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The New Mastersounds, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, J-boogie and Michal Menert. Both events will bring in a lot of visitors and hotel rooms over the busy weekend are limited. Late night tickets and all-inclusive tickets for the festival have sold out. Single day passes and the Summer Music pass is still available.

To contactRachael Horne emailreporter2@tetonvalleynews.net.

Beck, Widespread to lead July 4 festivities again

TVN file photos