CHF Policies and Rules

Onsite Logistics and Layout of Event

Right to locate participants,camps, interpretive sites, and sutlers within SCERA in thebest interest of the overall event:

The Camp Director reserves the right to locate any Participant where it is in the best interest of the Festival. Assignments will be made at the discretion of the Camp Director with the intent to create a structured and orderly encampment/village atmosphere. Displays and demonstrations will be located to encourage and allow larger crowds of visitors to gather without impeding the movement of visitors to all areas within the park. Participation in past years will be taken into consideration when making space assignments. Cancellations resulting in open spaces will be filled at the discretion of the Camp Director in accordance with said intentions above. CHF reserves the right to cancel or refuse ANY Participant that is not in the best interest of the event at any time.

Code of Conduct

When a visitor explores the site of the Colonial Heritage Festival, whether at the printshop, military encampment, or within an artisan’s shop, how do they really understand the drama, passions, triumphs, and tragedies that occurred nearly two and half centuries ago? What brings this event to life are the historical re-enactors, artisans, and devoted volunteers. Engaging all the senses of our visitors - smelling the gunpowder, or delicious aromas from cooking fires, seeing the bright colors of traditional dress, feeling the coarseness of wool vs. the smoothness of silk amongst historic textiles, hearing the booms of cannon, and even tasting freshly baked bread -- it is the best way to not only teach visitors about history but to make them care about it. Generating a holistic experience for our visitors will bring them back, and have them spread the word amongst friends, neighbors, and family about how impressive the festival event is.

We are here at CHF for the same purpose, to portray events that happened in the past for the benefit of the public, and for our own enjoyment. We agree to follow the rules for safety, curfew, alcohol consumption, and whatever other restrictions are required of us. Just as we have agreed to adhere to standards for our clothing and our interpretative displays we agree to adhere to standards for our behavior. To maintain the interpretive authenticity of the event, the safety of our visitors, along with the spirit of education and entertainment; participants are encouraged to adhere to the following Code of Conduct:

• I will not let personal politics or philosophy interfere with the goals of education for the public and a pleasant experience for my fellow participants.
• I will listen carefully and respectfully. I will not dismiss nor minimize the validity of what others have to say.
• I will not discriminate against my fellow re-enactors, artisans, volunteers, or public based on their race, color, religion, veteran status, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. I will make all reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of disabled re-enactors.
• I will respect the unique vulnerability of the under-aged.
• If I see something inappropriate, I will either say something politely to the offender directly or report it to an authority figure to help ensure the safety and comfort of those around me.
• I will do my best to behave with courtesy and civility to everyone I encounter and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

In its simplest terms, treat everyone else as you would want them to treat you. The bullet points above break it down specifically, and in order for this community to feel welcoming to the largest possible population, we invite everyone to endorse the above code of conduct as the standard by which we operate.

Colonial Heritage Festival and Regulations

Colonial Heritage Festival, (CHF) welcomes you to SCERA Park!

Please read and follow the rules and regulations listed below. These are intended as a framework for a successful event and designed to ensure your safety and that of other participants, as well as the public. In the event of an emergency please contact a staff memberof CHF. If you have any questions or concerns, we will be happy to assist you.

All participants are required to:

• Conform to rules and regulations as expressed by the event staff
• Follow instructions of the prospective commanders and committee leaders
• Portray life and military scenes consistent with the colonial period

General Guidelines:

• Safety regulations are always in effect. Participants must follow public safety rules and standards during demonstrations.
• Participants will remain in the historical dress of the appropriate time period during event hours.
• All equipage shall be of period design and in good condition.
• Camps and Interpretative Areas are to conform to an appropriate presentation while the camps are open to the public.
• Modern accouterments or anachronisms (e.g., pop cans, plastic ware, coolers) are to be removed from view during event hours.
• All fires must be extinguished before breaking camp.
• Alcohol consumption is not allowed on the premise by order of the City of Orem.
• Anyone acting in an unsafe, disorderly, or uncooperative manner and refuses to amend their activity will be asked to leave.
• While camping at SCERA Park, please take special care of site features. Pets and animals must be always on a leash.
• All motorized vehicles must be removed from the encampment areas during event hours. The site manager can make exceptions, for those with special needs.
• Quiet hours will be observed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Sound Devices: There shall be no use of any sound device by participant(s). CHF event staff reserves the right to allow any such devices as it deems necessary.
  • It is understood that the Participant is responsible for the actions of their family members or guardians, or any other person or persons connected to their space or spaces.
  • Children of the Participant are their responsibility and should remain in his/her care/supervision during the event.
  • Other Participants are not responsible to take care of or supervise any child not in their family or connected with their space.
  • Children of Participants who are unsupervised and create disturbances or issues in any area of the park may result in corrective action.

Military / Militia

• All “battle” participants must be “attached” to a registered, coordinating unit. No “unattached” person(s) or group(s) are allowed. Individual re-enactors will be assigned to a unit by CHF military commanders.

Firearms

• Firearms will only be discharged in accordance with scheduled demonstrations or with the approval and at the discretion of the military commanders.
• Only adequately made and proofed reproduction firearms will be used. Prior to the first firing of the day, a weapon safety inspection will be made by an appointed safety officer.
• No firearm shall be pointed directly towards another person, visitor, or reenactor. All opposed line demonstrations require all weapons to be elevated above the enemy force when closed within 100 feet.
• Members of the public may be permitted to handle an unloaded firearm as part of interpretive programs, however, the demonstrator must maintain control or supervision of the weapon and no member of the public may fire a weapon.
• All flintlock firearms are encouraged to have flash guards properly fitted to the priming pan.

Cartridges

• Only prepared cartridges for firearms and /or artillery cartridges and priming tubes shall be brought to the demonstration or tactical area.
• Horns with bulk powder are not permitted during battle scenarios.
• Blank cartridges will be of paper, rolled in an appropriate manner, folded, glued, or tied without staples or tape.
• Artillery cartridges will be of aluminum foil, rolled, and formed with a distinct bottom and top to the cartridges.
• Unexpended cartridges and dropped rounds will be policed from the demonstration area and returned to safe storage containers.
• Cartridges will be stored in appropriate containers.

Table of Maximum Loads (Black Powder Only)

Artillery:

• Participants are at the discretion/approval of military commander(s) to serve on a cannon crew.
• An appointed safety officer must inspect each artillery piece, the implements, rounds, and the drill of the crew prior to use.
• No artillery piece shall be loaded more frequently than once every five minutes.
• All artillery crews will triple worm and double sponge for all blank firings.
• Friction primer or linstock and quill will be used for firing.
• For demonstrations, Artillery shall be placed with twelve yards between the piece and the visitors. The area forward of the muzzle will also be kept clear of people for the arc of 60 degrees.
• No gun is to be moved in a loaded condition in any demonstration or simulated battle.
• Artillery will not fire when opposing forces or supporting infantry are within one hundred feet and a 60-degree arc of the muzzle (Safety Zone).

Artillery Misfire Procedures:

• Inform the tactical commanders immediately.
• After 5 minutes, the piece may be primed a second time.
• In the case of a second misfire, wait 5 min and flood the tube.
• During the securing of the piece, no one is allowed to enter the Safety Zone.

Edged Weapons:

• The public may not handle any edged weapon, including bayonets.
• Hand-to-hand combat is not allowed without prior approval from CHF staff.
• All knives, axes, polearms, swords, and bayonets used for passive demonstrations shall have dull edges.
• All edged weapons or tools except polearms shall have sturdy sheaths or scabbards in place when not in use
• Knives, axes, and other cutting tools for active demonstrations such as chopping wood or food service shall be used for that purpose only.