One Utah Music Festival Found the Perfect Way to Honor Heroes

America’s veterans have sacrificed more than most can imagine.

They’ve given up years of their lives, time with their families, and in too many cases, their physical and mental well-being to protect our freedoms.

And one incredible Utah music festival just found the perfect way to show these heroes the respect they deserve.

Wasatch Boomerfest Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Veterans

The third annual Wasatch Boomerfest is set to transform the stunning mountain landscape of Wallsburg, Utah into a classic rock paradise from August 22-24, 2025.¹ But what makes this festival truly special isn’t just the incredible lineup of local bands or the picturesque setting – it’s the heart behind the event.

Military veterans and their families get completely free admission with the discount code "ISERVED."² While other festival-goers can snag 50% off tickets with the code "GENEVA," our nation’s heroes get the VIP treatment they’ve earned through their service.

The festival takes place at the Richard W. Erickson Foundation’s Antique & Classic Power Museum, a 24-building complex that houses hundreds of classic motorcycles, automobiles, and farm equipment.³ The museum’s paved pathways make it wheelchair accessible – a thoughtful touch for veterans dealing with service-connected injuries.

"The Antique and Classic Power Museum has vintage classic cars and motorcycles like no other in the Intermountain West," states Robert Muir, vice-chairman for the Foundation.⁴ "We’re showing off some new acquisitions that are sure to rev the engines of V8 muscle car enthusiasts."

Where Classic Rock Meets Classic Cars

This isn’t your typical music festival crammed into some concrete parking lot. Wasatch Boomerfest spreads across the natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains, just 30 minutes from Heber and Orem.⁵

Attendees can expect a weekend filled with classic rock performances set against the natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains, just 30 minutes from Heber and Orem.⁵

Multiple food vendors and local artisans will be stationed throughout the grounds while a dozen talented regional bands take the stage during the three-day family-friendly festival.⁶

For those wanting to make a full weekend of it, camping accommodations are available right on the festival grounds.⁷ The campground opens at 5:00 pm the day before the event, giving families time to settle in and enjoy the mountain atmosphere.

Children 15 and under get free admission, making this a truly family-friendly event.⁸ Festival tickets also include free access to the world-class Richard W. Erickson Antique & Classic Power Museum, where visitors can explore authentic early era filling stations, the original Shoe Shop from Salt Lake City’s North Temple, and vintage domestic buildings displaying period home goods.⁹

Continue Mission: No Veteran Left Behind

What elevates Wasatch Boomerfest from a great festival to something truly meaningful is where the money goes. All net proceeds from the event benefit Continue Mission, a Utah-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and service members who are dealing with service-connected physical, mental, and emotional challenges.¹⁰ The organization extends its services to family members and support networks as well, recognizing that veteran wellness affects entire families.

Continue Mission operates under a simple but powerful motto: "No Veteran Left Behind."¹¹ Founded by Josh and Melissa Hansen – Josh being a medically retired Army veteran who served as a bomb disposal specialist during the Iraq invasion – the organization provides year-round recreational and educational events at absolutely no cost to participating veterans and their families.¹²

The statistics behind their work tell a sobering story about the challenges our veterans face. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day in America.¹³ Continue Mission tackles this crisis head-on by getting veterans out of isolation and back into community activities where they can find camaraderie and healing.

Their events run the gamut – alpine skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, bowling, pickleball, disc golf, softball, paddleboarding, mountain biking, cycling, hiking, nature walks, museum tours, and multi-day adventures.¹⁴ The variety ensures there’s something for every veteran, regardless of their physical capabilities or interests.

Proven Results in the Fight Against Veteran Suicide

Continue Mission isn’t just throwing activities at the wall and hoping something sticks. They track their results, and the data is encouraging. Annual surveys of participating veterans show that involvement in Continue Mission events has had a positive impact on their mental health and resulted in decreased suicidal ideation.¹⁵

"During the war it was part of my duty to look out for my fellow Veterans and to keep them alive," Josh Hansen explained. "Here at home I still have a duty to my fellow Veterans. I have chosen to continue serving their needs through Continue Mission."¹⁶

The organization combines clinical expertise with peer-led support, ensuring they provide high-level community reintegration opportunities.¹⁷ They stay actively involved in mental health coalitions like the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Davis HELPS Suicide Prevention Coalition.¹⁸

But Continue Mission goes beyond just organizing activities. They provide structured therapeutic events that have proven to have a positive impact on all aspects of participants’ lives, including improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation.¹⁹ Last year alone, they hosted 158 events – an average of three per week.²⁰

More Than Entertainment – It’s Community Healing

"We are proud of our partnership with Continue Mission and the lives that they touch," said Russell D. Baker, Chairman of The Richard W. Erickson Foundation.²¹ "Boomerfest is designed to bring joy to people all over the Wasatch Front, through family-friendly entertainment, live music, and a wealth of activities. The chance to extend joy to more individuals with Continue Mission is a privilege."

The festival runs Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.²² Tickets range from $30 to $270 depending on the package selected, with all proceeds after expenses going directly to veteran support.²³

For veterans who want to upgrade their experience, the festival now offers "Boomerville" – luxury yurt accommodations provided by VIP YURTS LLC.²⁴ Instead of wrestling with tent poles and camping gear, veterans can simply show up with a suitcase and a cooler for a weekend of comfortable glamping.

A Festival with Heart and History

What started as a simple idea to combine classic rock with classic cars has evolved into something much more meaningful. Wasatch Boomerfest has become a premier Utah music festival destination, but it’s the underlying mission that sets it apart.²⁵

The Richard W. Erickson Foundation’s museum itself tells the story of America’s powered past, spanning the transition from horse to steam to piston power throughout the industrial revolution and beyond.²⁶ It’s a fitting backdrop for an event that honors the people who’ve powered America’s defense for generations.

The festival features a round circle track for cyclekarts, tractor pulls, and minibikes, a state-of-the-art RC Sky Park, and a complete Pioneer Village displaying original equipment.²⁷ Visitors can tour authentic buildings and see how American ingenuity built the foundation for the prosperity our veterans fought to protect.

How the Community Can Get Involved

Beyond attending the festival, the community has multiple ways to support Continue Mission’s work. They organize service projects including clothing drives, blanket drives, hygiene kit assembly, and Eagle Scout projects.²⁸

Volunteers can help make Boomerfest run smoothly while sponsors gain valuable exposure supporting a worthy cause.²⁹ The organization also welcomes civilians to join many of their recreational events, fostering connections between veterans and the communities they served.

For those who can’t make it to Wallsburg, Continue Mission operates year-round programs that always need support. Their weekly mountain biking events, cycling rides, and family activities provide consistent opportunities for veterans to stay connected and active.

A Model for Supporting Our Heroes

Wasatch Boomerfest proves that supporting veterans doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes it just takes creativity, heart, and a willingness to think beyond traditional fundraising methods.

By combining entertainment that appeals to families with a cause that matters to every American, the festival creates a win-win situation. Attendees get a memorable weekend of music and classic cars while veterans get the support services they’ve earned through their sacrifice.

The event also demonstrates how local organizations can make a real difference in addressing national challenges. While veteran suicide remains a crisis affecting communities across America, grassroots efforts like Continue Mission show that solutions can emerge from unexpected places.

With just weeks until the 2025 Wasatch Boomerfest kicks off, organizers expect strong attendance based on previous years’ success. The combination of beautiful mountain scenery, classic rock music, vintage vehicles, and meaningful community support has created something special in the heart of Utah.

For veterans looking for a weekend of fun with people who understand their experiences, or families wanting to enjoy great music while supporting a worthy cause, Wasatch Boomerfest offers both. In a time when our nation’s heroes too often feel forgotten, events like this remind us that there are still communities willing to step up and say "thank you for your service" in ways that truly matter.

To purchase tickets or learn more about the Richard W. Erickson Foundation and Continue Mission, visit the Foundation’s website. Veterans can use code "ISERVED" for free admission, while all other festival-goers can get 50% off with code "GENEVA."

¹ PilmerPR, "Wasatch Boomerfest to Rock for Utah Veterans," EINPresswire, August 6, 2025.

² Ibid.

³ Ibid.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ Richard W. Erickson Foundation, "Wasatch Boomerfest," Richard W. Erickson Foundation, 2025.

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ Ibid.

⁸ Ibid.

⁹ PilmerPR, "Wasatch Boomerfest to Rock for Utah Veterans," EINPresswire, August 6, 2025.

¹⁰ Richard W. Erickson Foundation, "Wasatch Boomerfest," Richard W. Erickson Foundation, 2025.

¹¹ Continue Mission, "We Serve Veterans and Service Members," Continue Mission, 2025.

¹² Amy Joi O’Donoghue, "Help for veterans: Continue Mission supports Utah veterans," Deseret News, February 1, 2024.

¹³ Veteran Owned Business, "Continue Mission," Veteran Owned Business, 2024.

¹⁴ Continue Mission, "Continue Mission," GuideStar, 2024.

¹⁵ Continue Mission, "We Serve Veterans and Service Members," Continue Mission, 2025.

¹⁶ Veteran Owned Business, "Continue Mission," Veteran Owned Business, 2024.

¹⁷ Continue Mission, "Continue Mission," GuideStar, 2024.

¹⁸ Ibid.

¹⁹ Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, "Community Member," Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, 2025.

²⁰ Amy Joi O’Donoghue, "Help for veterans: Continue Mission supports Utah veterans," Deseret News, February 1, 2024.

²¹ EINPresswire, "Richard W. Erickson Foundation Announces Wasatch Boomerfest: Family-Friendly Fun Supports Veterans," EINPresswire, August 3, 2023.

²² FestivalNet, "Wasatch Boomerfest 2025," FestivalNet, 2025.

²³ Ibid.

²⁴ Kaitlyn Bancroft, "Enjoy a weekend of classic rock at Utah’s Boomerfest," KSL.com, 2024.

²⁵ Richard W. Erickson Foundation, "Wasatch Boomerfest," Richard W. Erickson Foundation, 2025.

²⁶ EINPresswire, "Richard W. Erickson Foundation Announces Wasatch Boomerfest: Family-Friendly Fun Supports Veterans," EINPresswire, August 3, 2023.

²⁷ PilmerPR, "Wasatch Boomerfest to Rock for Utah Veterans," EINPresswire, August 6, 2025.

²⁸ Veteran Owned Business, "Continue Mission," Veteran Owned Business, 2024.

²⁹ Kaitlyn Bancroft, "Enjoy a weekend of classic rock at Utah’s Boomerfest," KSL.com, 2024.