Step back into Idaho’s past at Shelley’s Harvest Festival on Saturday
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SHELLEY — From mountain men throwing tomahawks to the aroma of Dutch oven cooking, visitors to the Snake River Homestead this weekend will get a taste of Idaho’s colorful past.
The 2026 Harvest Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering an afternoon of hands-on activities, demonstrations and opportunities to learn more about Idaho’s history and cultural heritage. Admission is free.
This year’s festival theme is “From Homestead to Community: Exploring Idaho’s Cultural Roots and Shared Stories.
“We want to bring the humanities to life,” said event manager Janel Andersen. “The public of all ages is invited to explore Idaho’s history and culture in an engaging way.”
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Visitors can watch traditional skills in action, including beekeeping, weaving, tinsmithing and horseshoeing.
Dutch oven cooking will offer a taste of pioneer cuisine, complete with samples, while mountain men will bring frontier history to life with tomahawk throwing, black powder firearm demonstrations and displays of historical traps, animal skulls and furs.
Among the presenters is John Bevan of Teton Valley, who goes by the mountain man name “Surefire,” and serves as the range officer of the Fort Henry Buckskinners.
“I grew up trapping furbearers to earn a little extra spending money, and I’ve always been interested in the mountain man era, especially black powder firearms,” Bevan said. “Over the years, I’ve built several traditional black powder guns.”
Adam Finehout of Rexburg will also be sharing his enthusiasm for history. He began dressing as a mountain man to give children a chance to see authentic historical artifacts and experience history firsthand.
“History doesn’t have to be boring,” Finehout said. “In fact, it should be fun and hands-on!”
Another featured presenter is Bailey Dann of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall. Dann serves as a research and education specialist in the tribes’ Language and Cultural Preservation Department, which operates within the Office of Original Territories and Historical Research.
Along with the demonstrations, visitors will have opportunities to interact with presenters, ask questions and gain a deeper appreciation for the people and traditions that have shaped Idaho.
“It’s going to be a fun fall event for the whole family,” Andersen said. “Come enjoy the beautiful Snake River Homestead while learning about our great Idaho culture.”
The Snake River Homestead is located just east of Interstate 15’s Exit 108 near Shelley.
The festival is partially funded by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
