A trio of weekend events in Utah variously put the focus on the Italian, Native American and Black communities.
The Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation is holding a dinner gala on Friday and its annual Tell the Story history conference on Saturday, both at Rowland Hall school at 970 E. 800 South in Salt Lake City. A repeat of the history conference is set for Sept. 20 in Kaysville. They are paid events.
The Ancestral Remembrance Celebration and Recognition Dinner Gala, launched by Sema Hadithi founder Robert Burch in 2015, goes from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday. The event “celebrates the historic accomplishments of our African American ancestors, remembers them and recognizes those who have pushed Black history forward in Utah,” according to the organization’s promotional material.
This year’s installment of the Tell the Story conference, which goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and is now in its fifth year, will offer a look at Utah locations singled out in travel guides of yesteryear geared to Black motorists to help them safely travel around the country. “Come learn about those locations and the creation of the middle class in the United States,” the event website reads.
The Tell the Story conference in Kaysville will be held Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at True Vine Baptist Church, 197 W. 100 South.
The Italian-American Civic League of Utah is hosting the 10th Annual Festa Italiana on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. at The Gateway at 400 W. 200 South in Salt Lake City. Last year’s installment drew more than 40,000 visitors, organizers say.
The festival “will provide locals with an authentic Italian street festival experience that is prevalent in many other cities across the country,” organizers said in a statement. Admission is free and the event will feature Italian food from more than a dozen restaurants, performances by Italian musical artists, art and more.
A coalition of groups is hosting the Intermountain Hoop Dance Competition, featuring an array of Native American dancers and performers, on Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m. It will be held at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre at 2188 Red Butte Canyon Road in Salt Lake City. Organizers say the free event will be a “day of mesmerizing performances.”