The Curse of Midas is a topic that has been passed down through Greek mythology. King Midas was granted a wish by the god Dionysus, and he chose the power to turn everything he touched into gold. At first, Midas was thrilled with his newfound ability and reveled in the riches it brought him. However, he soon discovered that the curse of Midas was not as desirable as he initially believed. The first inkling of trouble came when Midas tried to eat and drink. As soon as he touched food or drink, it turned into solid gold, rendering it inedible and undrinkable.
Certainly, Witchfest has a little bit of everything for everyone. “The scavenger hunt is a fun, free game,” said Lucinda. “The witch displays are enchanting for their eyes to behold.” A deceptively tricky challenge to find different displays and themed decorations throughout the nooks and crannies of Gardner Village, the yearly scavenger hunt adds a dash of whimsy to exploring Gardner Village. This year, the finds included a witch in an outhouse, another stranded on a shark-surrounded raft and a third using her “eye-phone.”
Visitors of Gardner Village flock to Witchfest from all stages of life gaggles of teenagers, parents holding their children s hands and young couples out on dates. Disclosure This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended.
As soon as he touched food or drink, it turned into solid gold, rendering it inedible and undrinkable. This caused Midas great distress, as he realized the curse was not only a blessing but also a curse. He soon found out that he could not even touch his loved ones, as they too would turn to gold.
Exploring Historic Gardner Village at the 19th Annual Witchfest
The recipe for a perfect Halloween calls for fried green tomatoes, a dash of alpaca kisses, a hundred spools of colorful yarn and an ounce or two of laughter to taste. The witches of the historic Gardner Village will vouch for it. Masters of brewing ooky-spooky fun, they fly in every year to Witchfest, one of Utah’s top Halloween celebrations. While this West Jordan shopping center remains popular all year long, Witchfest sparks with an irresistible charm. From Sept. 14 through the end of October, hundreds of costumed visitors from across the Salt Lake Valley came each day of the festival to shop, dine, cackle and play.
Every October, Gardner Village turns into a quaint Halloween town. (Courtesy of Gardner Village)
Witchfest events ranged from magic shows to weekly parades to nighttime parties. One would only need to take a simple stroll through Gardner Village to see it decoratively transformed into a Halloween-lover’s dream. Between dancing to music and diving between shops, visitors inevitably bumped into the stars of the celebration — the witches themselves. These witches put on photo-ops, dinner theatre shows and in-character breakfasts to bring the enchantment of Witchfest to life. Gardner Village’s Lucinda the Witch has attended or performed for Witchfest each year since it first started in 2000.
According to Gardner Village’s blog, Witchfest isn’t only a celebration of Halloween, but “a celebration of womanhood.” It’s “an excuse to trade those high heels for pointed toes” and “a time to drop the laundry basket and pick up a broom (for riding, of course!)” For many, witches represent female empowerment as powerful, magic women who embrace oddity and go against the grain. This is especially true to Lucinda’s personal interpretation of being a witch. “I don’t want people to associate Lucinda with a real person’s name,” she said. “Every woman has an alter ego, and ‘Lucinda’ is definitely an alter ego.” Speaking after witching-hours, she said, “I hope I can give you Lucinda’s perspective when I’m not Lucinda,” and laughed.
When it comes to performing, Lucinda said, “It’s fun, it’s exciting. The costumes are amazing, so they say.” But her favorite part? “Getting to meet the families,” she said. Visitors of Gardner Village flock to Witchfest from all stages of life — gaggles of teenagers, parents holding their children’s hands and young couples out on dates. “It’s intended for the whole family from the youngest child to our oldest witch, who is 382,” said Lucinda. “That’s how old one of our witches says they are!” When asked what Witchfest means to her, Lucinda’s answer was immediate. “Family traditions,” she said. “Because it’s just a ton of family traditions. We have families who have been coming for years and years and years and years, and it’s definitely magical.”
Pumpkins galore! (Courtesy of Gardner Village)
Certainly, Witchfest has a little bit of everything for everyone. “The scavenger hunt is a fun, free game,” said Lucinda. “The witch displays are enchanting for their eyes to behold.” A deceptively tricky challenge to find different displays and themed decorations throughout the nooks and crannies of Gardner Village, the yearly scavenger hunt adds a dash of whimsy to exploring Gardner Village. This year, the finds included a witch in an outhouse, another stranded on a shark-surrounded raft and a third using her “eye-phone.”
Gardner Village is a shopping center after all, and Lucinda calls the variety of stores “really fun.” The shopping center features a variety of small businesses that sell all kinds of items. Willow Hill Yarn Company offers knitting supplies and lessons while Story Book Nook sells children’s books and toys of all kinds. Find knick-knacks such as antique teacups, comics and jewelry at Aunt Elsie’s Trinkets and Treasures, or stop by the Utah Sports Collective to grab new fan gear for game day. The shop I love most at Gardner Village is a candy store, Chocolate Covered Wagon, which makes gourmet truffles, fudge and caramel apples. “My favorite caramel apple is the White Rapids Caramel Apple,” said Lucinda.
A whimsical coven of witches. (Courtesy of Gardner Village)
Aside from sweets, Lucinda recommends two other bites from Gardner Village. “I do love Naborhood Bakery’s Margherita pizza,” she said. “And of course they’ve got delicious pastries.” Naborhood is a small shop similar in feel to Paradise Bakery and Kneaders. “Fried green tomatoes are delicious from Archibald’s Restaurant,” said Lucinda. Archibald’s is a slightly more upscale sit-down restaurant seated in the belly of the flour mill located at the head of Gardner Village.
By way of the Trax Red Line, Gardner Village is located about 40 minutes away from the University of Utah with a stop directly across the street from the shopping center. Aside from Witchfest and year-round dining and shopping, Gardner Village offers several year-long activities including painting nights, escape rooms, a duck pond and an animal rescue petting zoo with sheep, ponies and alpacas. The village will also be decorated again this coming December for the holidays.
As for Lucinda’s ideal day spent at Gardner Village? “I would dig up worms near the pond, eating caramel apples from Chocolate Covered Wagon,” said Lucinda. “And then, of course, flying my broom.”
The curse of Midas teaches an important lesson about the dangers of greed and materialism. Midas was so consumed with the desire for wealth and power that he did not consider the consequences of his wish. His greed ultimately led to isolation and despair, as he could no longer enjoy the simple pleasures of life or connect with other people. Midas finally realized the error of his ways and begged Dionysus to take back his wish. The god showed mercy and instructed Midas to wash away his curse in the river Pactolus. Midas did as he was told, and as the water flowed over him, everything he had turned to gold was returned to its original state. The story of the Curse of Midas serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of materialism and the importance of valuing human relationships and the simple joys of life. It warns against the pursuit of wealth at any cost and emphasizes the need for balance and moderation in our desires. Overall, the story of the Curse of Midas is a timeless myth that teaches valuable lessons about the consequences of unchecked greed and the importance of appreciating the things that truly matter in life. It reminds us that true wealth lies in the relationships we build and the experiences we have, rather than the accumulation of material possessions..
Reviews for "Midas and the Golden Touch: A Cautionary Tale for our Times"
1. Samantha - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Curse of Midas". The storyline was predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and had no depth. The performances were mediocre at best, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The special effects were also underwhelming and did not enhance the overall viewing experience. Overall, "Curse of Midas" failed to live up to its potential and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Tim - 1/5 - "Curse of Midas" was a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and the acting was incredibly wooden. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the entire movie due to its lackluster execution. The film relied heavily on cheap jump scares and predictable twists, making it completely unoriginal. The visual effects were poorly done, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. I wouldn't recommend "Curse of Midas" to anyone looking for a quality horror film.
3. Jessica - 2/5 - "Curse of Midas" was a lackluster attempt at horror. The pacing was slow and the story seemed to drag on without any meaningful development. I found the characters to be unlikable and their actions were often illogical. The scares were few and far between, and when they did happen, they were predictable and not at all frightening. The film failed to create a sense of tension or suspense, leaving me bored and unengaged. Overall, "Curse of Midas" fell short of delivering a compelling horror experience.