Pageant History

Now over 20 years old, the Martin Harris Pageant has grown from a little-known community play to an epic pageant attended annually by thousands of people. The 2,200 seat ampitheater is routinely sold out. The pageant was written by Rhett James. Every year, hundreds of people from around the Cache Valley join together to produce and perform this beautiful and musical pageant about the life and testimony of Martin Harris.

Hundreds await the start of the pageant in the memorial ampitheater

The pageant was first produced by Duane Huff and Denzel Clark at the request of Valdo Benson, brother of Ezra Taft Benson, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Each year a wooden set is erected in the ampitheater and hundreds of costumes are designed for the performers. The show starts shortly before sundown and continues for 2 hours. Traditionally, the members of the community provide a barbecue dinner for the hundreds of visitors to their small town. A small fee buys a hearty western barbecue feast!

The Martin Harris Pageant in full swing after sundown