The festival includes a little of everything related to the outdoors for all age groups, including multiple events for bowhunters, a virtual shooting range, a stargazing party and an off-road vehicle track.

Utahns will even get a chance to test their lumberjack skills on a single-buck simulator - a single-buck is a two-handed saw for those of you who don't cut trees for a living.

Festival host Brian Brinkerhoff of Backcountry Utah and the Backcountry Radio Networks said the event is intended to expose or reconnect people with nature using hands-on activities and demonstrations.

Specifically, he said, children are increasingly disconnected from the outdoors.

"In today's electronic age, families are spending less quality time together on the trails, water and scenic destinations," Brinkerhoff said.

Aviva Fishing Buddies puts an electronic spin on the outdoors by attaching bait to the end of a remote-controlled boat, offering a new way to reel in fish at a fishing pond with 500 rainbow trout, stocked by the Sportman's Warehouse and Rocky Mountain Anglers.

One of the festival's most popular events likely will be ESPN filming the STIHL Timbersports professional series, a competition for professional lumberjacks, which kicks off its season at the festival.

To coincide with the timbersports action, festivalgoers can try using a two-handed cross-cut saw to cut slices of wood from giant logs.

"It has the same feel and presure as a regular saw," Roger Phelps, communications manager for STIHL. "Our guys are so good, they make it look easy, so this shows how difficult it really is."

Wild Outdoors Festival

* WHERE: Thanksgiving Point's Electric Park

* WHEN: Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* COST: $15, $10 children and seniors. Most activities are free with the price of admission.

* COUPONS: Discount coupons available at Sportman's Warehouse.

* MORE INFO: www.wildoutdoorsfestival.com