July 17-26 2027, Manti Utah
Info & FAQ
For topic specific questions, use the tabs below or view the OTHER FAQ section for commonly asked questions.
Accommodation
We are thrilled to introduce the Palisade Taiko Lodge as our primary event hub for 2026! As a special thank you to our community, our all-inclusive Early Bird Registration ($1350) INCLUDES basic on-site accommodation and all meals for the full 9-night experience. This "Free Housing" is a gift extended until March 31 or to the first 20 registrants who wish to stay at the Lodge - whichever comes first. Please note that the registration price is fixed; if you choose to stay off-site or if the Lodge is full, no credits or discounts are provided for external housing.
Room Upgrades & Late Registration: Looking for more privacy? Early Bird registrants can upgrade to a Private Queen Room or the Penthouse Suite for an additional cost. Once the Early Bird spots are filled (or the deadline passes), any remaining Lodge space will be available for booking starting at $225 for basic accommodation, with private room upgrades available at an additional cost
Use the button below to Explore the Full Accommodation & Upgrade Details
Food & Drink
All meals are now included in your registration! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided daily, with catered meals primarily served at the Palisade Taiko Lodge. Dinner will occasionally take place at local restaurants, where vegetarian options will be available.
ALl meals include vegetarian options. While we strive to accommodate dietary preferences, we are unable to offer additional substitutions beyond vegetarian options. Please note that in this small rural area, restaurants and cafes have more limited selections, so we encourage participants with specific dietary needs to plan accordingly.
2027 Alcohol and Drug Use Policy
Our event is dedicated to promoting health and well-being through taiko, movement, nature, and community. Taiko engages the mind and body, supports neurological and physical health, and creates meaningful connections that contribute to our overall well-being.
As our event has evolved, we have become increasingly intentional about creating an environment that reflects these values. Beginning this year, alcohol and recreational drug use are prohibited throughout the entire event.
This decision builds on participant feedback from our most recent survey: 100% of respondents reported that our previous alcohol restrictions did not negatively affect their experience, and approximately 80% said the restrictions actually enhanced it.
We are excited to take this next step toward making health and well-being an integral part of the entire experience. Thank you for helping us cultivate an environment where we can fully engage, challenge ourselves, connect with one another, and celebrate the transformative power of taiko.
Please also bear in mind that smoking, vaping and alcohol are strictly prohibited on Manti High School campus.
A Special Note On Drug Use
Please be aware that drug usage in Utah is illegal - this includes marijuana & other products containing THC as well as psilicybin.
We kindly inform all participants that anyone found in possession of, or under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, will be asked to leave the event and could potentially face criminal prosecution.
Travel
TRAVEL TO UTAH
We are going to be out in the country! Manti is quite small, and everything is within walking distance. However, the area in Sanpete County where UTE is held has no public transit options.
Flying: If you are flying to UTE, the best airport for both domestic and international travelers is Salt Lake City International (SLC) or Provo,Utah Airport. From here you can either rent a car or take our shuttle (info below).
Manti, Utah is located about 2 hours drive south of Salt Lake City. It's a simple and beautiful drive down I-15 & Highway 89.
Rental Car: If you plan to visit more of the area either before or after UTE or simply want or need alternative transportation, then a rental car will be your best option. There are many options for rental cars from SLC International Airport, and parking is in abundance in both Manti & Ephraim.
Shuttle: we will be running a complimentary shuttle to/from the airport. Shuttle time is as follows:
Saturday, July 17: 2:00 PM pick-up from SLC International
Monday, July 26. 10:00 AM departure for SLC International (we plan to arrive at SLC at approx noon.)
Your registration includes daily transportation from Manti High School to all of our event locations (outdoor excursions) and dinner locations. Get yourself to the High School each day and we will take care of the rest! Daily Transport from the Palisade Taiko Lodge to the high school is included for Lodge guests.
Concert / Workshops
On Saturday evening, all of us will be presenting an amazing taiko concert, held at Manti City Park!
This concert will consist of community songs that shouhld be learned in advance using online resources that we will provide for you. Don't worry, we will be be here to help you every step of the way, and we plan to get those resources out to you ASAP.
We are thrilled to have the chance to share taiko with such an amazing and recepütive community!
No, of course you can choose to not participate, but we think you will really want to.
Sharing is such an important part of any art form, and it is really one of those things you have to do to understand just how valuable it is. Try it! We will be there to back you up :)
As we progress in planning, we will put together a list of songs that will be played. At that point we will let you know how to proceed. Resources and a concert list should be released by April 2026.
Don't worry, we will be posting video and audio resources, note sheets and everything we have available to help you in learning the repertoire.
Other FAQ
We will cap registration at 30 Participants. We felt that a smaller group would make the experience much more personal and meaningful. With 30 people and 10 days, there should be ample time for each person to connect with every other person in the group in a meaningful way.
Our goal is that in the end everyone has made many deep and lasting connections and friendships, and each person feels that they were an integral part in creating this experience.
This more than just a taiko event held in a beautiful location. We want you to feel the freedom and experience the peace, beauty and sense of adventure that this location offers. We want you to be inspired to create an experience that is uniquely your own.
There will be so much to do, with something for everyone. We will have at least 2 taiko workshops out in the mountains as well as plenty of hikes (including a moon and other opportunities to explore and adventure
For 2027 we are planning to expand the taiko + nature idea even further than last year... we had some thrilling experiences taking taiko out into the mountains! So expect to be WOWED!
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Over 40 hours of daily artistic instruction from the UTE Instructors!
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All taiko equipment and drums (bring your own bachi)
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Daily excursions into Central Utah's most beautiful locations for hiking, fishing, swimming, and much more.
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All meals beginning with dinner July 17th and ending with breakfast on July 26th.
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Event transportation. This includes airport shuttle from SLC airport to Manti and back, and shuttle transport from Manti High School to all event locations and excursions.
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For EARLY BIRD registrants: Free Basic Accommodation at the Palisade Taiko Lodge (limited to 20)
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Optional equipment rental at some activities (Kayaks, etc.)
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Fishing License & tackle (a limited amount of fishing poles will be available)
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Travel Insurance (it is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance prior to your trip).
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Any other expenses not included in our list of "What is included in the price" above.
We plan on creating a curriculum of workshop sessions that will help develop our creativity and deepen our exploration with taiko: The entire group will be divided into 3 skill levels. These groups will be determined at the event.
Each of our instructors will be focusing on a particular area of expertise and will teach the same content at the 3 different skill levels throughout the week, and you will have two workshop sessions with each instructor.
Nope! All workshop sessions will be available to everyone.
Arrivals will be Saturday, July 17th, - we begin with a taiko session at 4:00PM.
Departures will be Monday, July 26th. Our event will officially end Monday morning.
Participants: Minimum age limit is 18 years old unless accompanied by a participant parent, then the minimum age is 14.
UTE is tailored to be an experience that is fun and challenging for EVERYONE, regardless skill level. Content is being specifically designed to accommodate a variety of skill levels. Much of the work we will be doing is geared towards getting you out of your comfort zone to a place where you can freely express, create and push your own boundaries. From this perspective, skill level becomes largely irrelevant.
That being said, a certain degree of skill will definitely enhance your experience. If you feel comfortable playing taiko and you enjoy a challenge, you should fit right in!
If you have any doubts or questions, please feel free to contact us and we can help you make an educated decision.
Central Utah provides a perfect location for us for many reasons.
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It is incredibly beautiful, peaceful and inspiring. A perfect venue for building creativity.
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It is not touristed. The locations we will visit are often completely void of visitors. This gives us a chance to really experience and explore the area the way the locals do.
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It is an area that has had limited exposure to taiko. There's nothing like sharing taiko with a brand new audience!
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The UTE director (Rannoch Purcell) was born and reared in Central Utah, so we have the advantage of having a local as our guide to the best spots the area has to offer.
We realise that planning for the future leaves many questions and uncertainties. We want you to feel confident and secure about registering for UTE, and so we have implemented a very generous cancellation policy that allows cancellation with a full refund until April 30th, 2026. Please read our full cancellation policy HERE.
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