By CATHERINE CORBETT
catherine@du2.byu.edu
The grand-opening celebration at The Shops at the Riverwoods Saturday will be a Renaissance festival with a thematic concept titled 'The Legend of the Riverwoods.' The idea is to reflect the history of the area where traders used to come. It's a permanent theme.
The new outdoor street concept is a 192,000 square-foot shopping village at the mouth of Provo Canyon. It is the first of its kind in Utah Valley, featuring upscale retail shops and restaurants.
The celebration will start at 10 a.m. with a spectacular ribbon-cutting ceremony with magic dust and Merlin on top of a building. The unveiling of 6-foot statues called 'Guardians of Riverwood' by Orem artist James C. Christensen will take place. The day will end with a firework celebration of more than 1,000 shells.
'They've spared nothing to make sure this is high quality,' said Gary Howard, event coordinator. Howard is also the organizer of Salt Lake City's Olympic bid celebration party.
'A fantasy element will continue through the event,' Howard said.
There will be people in costumes from the Elizabethan period. All during the day jugglers, fire-eaters and magicians will be about every 10 feet, all in Elizabethan costumes.
Howard does not want to reveal where the unique costumes are coming from so that the mystery will remain.
At 2 p.m. there will be a fashion show where, at the conclusion, a $1,000 shopping spree prize will be awarded. Entries will be accepted throughout the day.
Another big thing for children is the opportunity to learn art. Howard said some of the best artists in the state will be there to teach lessons, as opposed to just having 'kids come and slap something on a wall.'
There will be a children's mural wall on one of the building where children may learn to paint fairy princesses or queens that may have existed at the Elizabethan time.
'It's like a mini-arts festival,' said Micquelle Corry, public relations coordinator.
Howard said the quality and types of artists rival any arts festival in the country.
James C. Christensen will be there during the day to sign posters.
For college students, the main attraction will be the food. Corry said there will be festive food booths and specialty barbecues. There will also be three restaurants new to Provo. The food is not free, however.
Howard said he thinks college students will be more interested in the shops than the festivities.
Corry said that there are stores entirely focused on college-age adults who chose to come to Provo because BYU is nearby.
The majority of the 50 shops will be open Saturday.
City officials are excited about the opening.
'They've got quite a party planned,' said Provo Mayor Lewis Billings, who will be at the ribbon cutting.
The Shops at the Riverwoods is at 4800 North University Ave. in Provo next to the Wynnsong theaters.