Thankgiving Point hosts Imaginaria for America 250

Thanksgiving Points Imaginaria is celebrating America 250 in Ashton Gardens with family-friendly activities for all ages.

The gardens feature interactive festivities, including life-size monuments such as a 40-foot Statue of Liberty and schoolhouse lessons.

Kate Irish, the signature experiences event manager for Thanksgiving Point, planned Imaginaria.

We really wanted to create an ultimate festival that people of all ages could come to and enjoy and make amazing memories while also building community connection, Irish said.

While many of the activities are centered around learning experiences for kids, Imaginaria offers a variety of activities for everyone to participate in.

Were really trying to have a nonprofit that brings some learning and brings a growing environment to homes and to different households around Utah, Irish said. It allows parents to be in charge of their children's education as well.

Debra Gehris, a volunteer for Imaginaria, shared her experiences with the event.

For me, it's looking at the faces of the guests, Gehris said. When they see the Statue of Liberty, or when they're walking around and they see the flag thats up on the pole."

A 30-by-60-foot flag stands at the center of the Ashton Gardens that can be seen from the freeway.

There is also a historic flag display that has all 50 state flags as well as different American flags from the past 250 years.

Guests can walk through the flag display in an immersive experience that leads up to a banner showing the Declaration of Independence.

Last year was fun, but it was more for kids. This is more for everybody, Gehris said.

Her husband, David Gehris, is also a volunteer for Thanksgiving Point. He reflected on past American celebrations that he has seen.

I remember in 1976 the spirit and the enthusiasm around the country for the 200th anniversary was really intense back then, he said. I'm hoping that the same enthusiasm will be created here and that Imaginaria and America 250 will bring that spirit of patriotism and enthusiasm back.

Imaginaria also encourages visitors to take what they have learned and apply it at home.

We hope that they can see the patriotism but also the American spirit that we brought here, Irish said. They can take the learning and the facts that are spread across our gardens, and they can take that home, and they can apply that to their daily learning and growing.

Imaginaria goes through the past, present and future of America.

They learn about the past coming in and different elements, and then in the present they can work on activities, Irish said. "And then we take them into the future and try to apply what they just learned.

Thanksgiving Point has Imaginaria tickets available for the public and Thanksgiving Point members on their website.

The festival is running all summer, through August 22.