Summary
Who this article is for: Utah families, music lovers, history buffs, and anyone looking for a genuine summer experience near Heber City and Orem.
Key takeaways:
- Ted Fest (officially the Wasatch Mountain Music Festival) is held July 17-19, 2026 at the Richard W. Erickson Foundation in Wallsburg, UT.
- Tickets start at $36 for a Friday single-day pass. Kids 16 and under get in free, including camping.
- The lineup features local favorites and national acts across bluegrass, folk, Americana, country, and more.
- Saturday includes free museum access, train rides, a kids zone, food trucks, and a gospel jam Sunday morning.
- Single-night Camping on-site is $10 per person. Leashed dogs are welcome.
What’s inside:
- What Ted Fest is (and why it keeps selling out)
- Full breakdown of activities, camping, and the museum
- Ticket prices and how to plan your trip
- Why the Richard W. Erickson Foundation makes it different from any other Utah music festival
There is something genuinely different about Ted Fest. Not just different from other Utah events, but different from most music festivals anywhere. You are not parking at a fairground or standing in a field next to a sponsor banner. You are stepping into the grounds of the Richard W. Erickson Foundation Antique and Classic Power Museum in Wallsburg, Utah, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sitting in one of the most overlooked valleys in the state.
The 9th Annual Ted Fest runs July 17, 18, and 19, 2026. Three days of live music. On-site camping. Kids under 16 get in free. And Saturday, guests also get free access to one of the largest antique vehicle collections in Utah.
If you have never heard of it, now is the time to fix that.
What Is Ted Fest?
Ted Fest, formally known as the Wasatch Mountain Music Festival, is the Richard W. Erickson Foundation’s annual celebration of roots-based music. It started small. Over nine years it has grown into one of the most beloved Wallsburg events of the summer, drawing families, musicians, and music fans from across Utah and beyond.
The genre mix is intentional. You will hear bluegrass, folk, Americana, blues, jazz, old-time, country, and singer-songwriter sets across the weekend. Some acts are local favorites, names that people in Utah have followed for years. Others are national touring artists. Previous headliners include Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band and Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon, a well-regarded John Denver tribute act.
The full 2026 band lineup is available on the Ted Fest event page.
What to Expect: Activities, Schedule, and More
Ted Fest is structured around Saturday, which is the biggest day of the event. Friday opens with live music on the main stage and sets the tone. Saturday packs in just about everything. Sunday wraps up with a free pancake breakfast and a gospel jam, which has become something of a tradition.
Main Stage Music and Workshop Stage
The main stage runs both Friday and Saturday with full sets from featured artists. A separate workshop stage runs throughout Saturday, giving attendees a chance to get closer to the musicians, hear them talk through their craft, and sometimes participate. If you care about how music is actually made, the workshop stage tends to be a highlight.
Instrument and Singer-Songwriter Competitions
Ted Fest includes both an instrument competition and a singer-songwriter competition. These are not just filler. They bring out serious local talent and create some genuinely memorable moments for the crowd, especially for families who want to show their kids what it looks like when real musicians compete.
Kids Zone, Train Rides, and After-Show Movies
The event earns its “family-friendly” label. There is a dedicated kids zone on Saturday. The Foundation’s functional onsite train runs rides throughout the day. After the main shows wrap, they screen movies. Sunday morning means free pancakes and a gospel jam open to whoever wants to pull up a chair.
Free Museum Access on Saturday
This is the part that makes Ted Fest genuinely unique among Utah family activities. On Saturday, festival-goers get complimentary access to the Richard W. Erickson Antique and Classic Power Museum. That means more than 120 antique farm tractors, the largest Harley-Davidson collection in Utah, a working sawmill, a restored 1960s salvage garage, a vintage service station, a pioneer-era church and schoolhouse, and more.
It is a museum that takes a full afternoon to see properly. Getting it included in your festival ticket is not a small thing.
Ticket Prices and How to Get Them
Ted Fest 2026 pricing is straightforward:
- Friday Single-Day Pass: $36 (age 17 and over)
- Saturday Single-Day Pass: $54
- Friday and Saturday Weekend Pass: $72
- Camping (per person, all nights): $20
- Children 16 and younger: Free, including camping
Tickets are available through the Richard W. Erickson Foundation website. Buying early is a good idea. Ted Fest tends to draw a crowd, and the camping spots fill up.
Camping at Ted Fest: What You Need to Know
Both RV and tent camping are available on-site. There are no hookups and no open fires, so plan accordingly. Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash. Camping is $20 per person, and kids 16 and under stay free.
Staying on-site is worth it. Wallsburg is about 30 minutes between Orem and Heber City, off the main highway, which means the drive out at the end of the night is not ideal if you have had a full day. Camping also means you wake up Sunday in time for the free pancake breakfast, which is a genuinely good way to spend a morning.
The Richard W. Erickson Foundation: Why This Event Matters
The Foundation was established in 1999 by Richard and Rita Erickson, who spent more than 50 years collecting everything from Harley-Davidsons and gas pumps to toasters and ladies’ fashions. Their children, Pam and Todd, along with the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, have built on that collection and opened it to the public.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation depends on community support to keep running. Ted Fest is part of how they do that. Attending is not just a good weekend out. It directly supports the preservation of early American history in a way that is genuinely educational and open to everyone.
To learn more about the museum or plan a private tour, visit the Richard W. Erickson Foundation homepage. The museum is located at 50 Starks Lane, Wallsburg, Utah.
How to Plan Your Visit to Ted Fest 2026
Wallsburg is easy to reach. It sits roughly 30 minutes from both Orem and Heber City on US-189, tucked into Wasatch County. Most people coming from the Wasatch Front will take I-15 to US-189 east toward Heber, then follow signs into the valley.
A few things worth planning ahead:
- Book camping early: spots are limited and fill before the event.
- Download the venue map from the TedFest page before you arrive. Cell service in the canyon can be spotty.
- If you are coming with kids, Saturday is the best day. The kids zone, train rides, museum access, and movies are all Saturday.
- Sunday is slower and shorter, but the free pancake breakfast and gospel jam are a nice cap to the weekend.
Ready to make plans? Ted Fest 2026 runs July 17-19 in Wallsburg, Utah.
Grab your tickets before they sell out and plan to camp on-site for the full experience. Visit richardericksonfoundation.org/tedfest for the full lineup, schedule, and ticket purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ted Fest
What is Ted Fest?
Ted Fest is the Richard W. Erickson Foundation’s annual Wasatch Mountain Music Festival in Wallsburg, Utah. It runs three days each July and features live roots-based music across genres including bluegrass, folk, Americana, blues, and country, along with camping, family activities, and free museum access on Saturday.
When and where is Ted Fest 2026?
Ted Fest 2026 runs July 17, 18, and 19 at 50 Starks Lane, Wallsburg, Utah. Wallsburg is approximately 30 minutes from both Orem and Heber City.
How much do Ted Fest tickets cost?
Friday single-day passes are $36, Saturday single-day passes are $54, and a Friday-Saturday weekend pass is $72. Camping is $20 per person. Children 16 and under are free, including camping.
Is Ted Fest family-friendly?
Yes. There is a dedicated kids zone on Saturday, train rides for children, after-show movies, and a free Sunday pancake breakfast. Kids 16 and under get in free all three days. Dogs on leash are also welcome.
What kind of music is played at Ted Fest?
The festival focuses on roots-based music including bluegrass, acoustic, folk, Americana, blues, jazz, old-time, country, and singer-songwriter performances. There are both a main stage and a workshop stage, as well as instrument and singer-songwriter competitions.
Is camping available at Ted Fest?
Yes. Both RV and tent camping are available on-site for $20 per person. There are no hookups and no open fires. Dogs on a leash are allowed. Children 16 and under camp free.
What is the Richard W. Erickson Foundation?
The Richard W. Erickson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1999 to preserve early American history. Their Antique and Classic Power Museum in Wallsburg houses more than 120 antique tractors, Utah’s largest Harley-Davidson collection, a working sawmill, pioneer village buildings, and much more.
Do Ted Fest attendees get museum access?
Yes. On Saturday, all festival attendees receive complimentary access to the Richard W. Erickson Antique and Classic Power Museum, which normally requires a separate ticket.
Are there food options at Ted Fest?
Yes. Food trucks are on-site during the festival. On Sunday morning there is also a free pancake breakfast included with your stay.
How do I buy Ted Fest tickets?
Tickets are available through the Richard W. Erickson Foundation website at richardericksonfoundation.org/tedfest. Purchasing in advance is recommended as the event does sell out.
