Llamas and the people who love them have a fun weekend ahead. BYOL (Bring Your Own Llama) to the 16th Annual Llama Fest. On Saturday, July 17, the Krisha Temple in Spanish Fork hosts the event where you and your llama can compete in races and obstacle courses. What’s that? You don’t have a llama? You can still celebrate by watching and enjoying live music, dancing, food and crafts.

The festival was created to celebrate the working animal and its owners. Llamas are native to Peru, Chile and Bolivia and are used to carry heavy loads, which can be especially useful on camping trips and hikes. And they are built to handle the rough terrain, as it states on utahkrishnas.org, “they are the trucks of the Andes.”

You’ll want to bring your appetite for chili, nachos, empanadas, braised vegetables with fried bean curd, bread pudding, spicy wraps and lemon mango fruit drinks.

Llama Fest is Saturday, July 17 and starts at 4 p.m. at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, 311 W. 8500 South in Spanish Fork
Directions // From Southbound on I-15, take exit 257 and turn left. Travel three miles to the temple  (about 5 traffic lights).
Cost // $3 per person
More info // utahkrishmnas.org

Some facts about llamas:
Life span //  About 20 years
Average height // 45" at shoulder, 5-6' at the head
Average weight // 250-400 lbs.
Average gestation // 350 days
Birth // A single baby (cria) is normally born, without assistance, from a standing mother during daylight hours. Twinning is rare.

Spitting is the llamas way of saying "Bug Off!" Normally used between llamas to divert annoying suitors, ward off a perceived threat or, most commonly, to establish pecking order at mealtime, an occasional llama who has been forced to tolerate excessive human handling may have developed an intolerance for or a fear of humans and will spit if they feel threatened by them.

source: llamaweb.com