DATE 12/08/2005 12:43 PMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.

Holiday Celebrations Set for Sanpete County

The cities and town along U.S. Highway 89, the Heritage Highway, are gearing up for this year’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, starting this weekend with the historical bed and breakfast tour and annual Messiah concert in Ephraim.

“We want people traveling down the Heritage Highway U.S. 89 to stop off in the cities and towns along the highway for an old-fashioned Christmas,” says Monte Bona, a member of the Utah Highway 89 Alliance.

The annual “Bed & Breakfasts” tour of historical and heritage homes will be held Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Nine bed and breakfasts are taking part this year and are located in Spring City, Ephraim and Manti. Many of the bed and breakfasts are historical structures that have been painstakingly and lovingly restored as bed and breakfasts. A complete listing of bed and breakfasts taking part in the tour are available online atwww.utahheritage.com

On Saturday and Sunday, the Messiah Concert will also be held in Ephraim at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts on the Snow College campus. The 7:30 p.m. concert, which features performances by local residents, as been held every year since 1934. It includes an 50+ player orchestra as well as more than 100 local singers. Every year the concern attracts a wider and larger audience. Local resident Judy Morgan, professor of music theory and director of choral music at Snow College, has directed the performance for more than 20 years. For information, contact Contact Judy Morgan for information, 283-7469.

On Dec. 21, Sanpete County’s “hub” city will hold it annual holiday celebration at 6 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Center on Main Street. The main attraction will be a visit from Santa Claus, who will arrive by fire truck. There will also be refreshments, activities and the annual “big bucks” drawing for a shopping spree at area merchants. “Big Bucks are given out to people who visit local merchants. Santa will draw the name of the winner during the festivities. The winner need not be present to win. There will also be door prizes donated by local businesses and other holiday activities. The event is supported by local businesses in Mt. Pleasant City. For information call (435) 462-2502.

The holiday celebrations will wrap up Dec. 31 with the county’s annual New Year’s eve celebration at 9 p.m. at Manti High School. The 18 and older event is a fund raiser for the community swimming pool. The $5 entrance fee includes food, big band music and a floor show. For more information, contact John or Diane Keeler 835-9421.

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For more information Contact:

Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502