University Place closes their annual cultural festival series with Europe

University Place hosted an annual European Culture Festival at The Orchard in Orem, where people could learn about Europe through food, activities, dance, and music.

Festival goers could participate in axe throwing, shoot bows, dance around a maypole, and even just sit to enjoy the music and dancing.

"Throughout this event, we have different dance groups representing different countries in Europe, but then we finish out the night with knights in full armor battling it out," University Place event planner, Jared Mower, said.

The 13th Legion, an armored combat organization, provided a tent where patrons could look closely at the armor used in medieval Europe. They said their performances help people feel as though they are in a tournament in late medieval England.

"I actually really enjoy the community, the enthusiasm that everybody has with medieval weaponry, with medieval times, and getting dressed up and experiencing that comradery. The athleticism as well involved with fight in armor. The armor weighs anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds," Alex Whitelock, the 13th Legion Captain, said.

"We feel like that's creating understanding between all the different people. We are a very diverse area, and so there is a lot of heritage, there is a lot of culture, and [it's] providing an opportunity to share their culture," said Mower.

However, the real experience comes from people gathering to learn about a culture separate from their own.