OREM -- They might not have much of a use for tea cups and saucers, but conservatives from Utah County and around the state are gathering Saturday to celebrate the nation's birthday and to hold a rally aimed at taking back America from what they say is a federal government gone amok.

Orem resident and politico Candance Salima said she organized the Patriot's Day Fourth of July Tea Party in response to President Barack Obama's federal spending spree and his and a Democratic-controlled Congress's attack on citizens' rights.

They're "passing so much legislation curbing our personal rights and freedoms, on top of adding trillions to our debt," she said. "It's getting worse with every bill. Copious amounts of money."

The party will be on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the football field of Lakeridge Junior High, 951 S. 400 West in Orem. Salima said she felt inspired to organize the event after participating in a similar conservative take-back-our-government tea party in Salt Lake City on April 15. Despite cold, wet weather, an estimated 3,000 people from all political parties upset with their government's actions and spending turned out, vowing to help make a difference. More than 2,000 individual tea parties were held across the country that day, she said.

"We had legislators and legislatures take heart from the tea parties, that Americans are done. That they're standing up and asserting states' rights," said Salima, a Republican.

Orem's tea party will feature speakers including Utah Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Shurtleff, who will speak on the topic of the Constitution as the rule of law. State Rep. Brad Daw of Orem, Jean-Claude Wicks and Salima will also speak, and entertainment will be provided by Shaun Barrowes, Drew Reese, One Voice Children's Choir, Jill Camp Swensen and Ryann Race of "So You Think You Can Dance?"

"It's an opportunity for citizens to speak out in support of the Constitution. ... It's more than a day of celebration; it's a day of action," Salima said.

Orem is not alone. At least 1,300 other tea parties are scheduled around the country for July 4, including three more in Provo, and a total of 14 in the Beehive State.

The gatherings are meant to call citizens to political action, to find and support candidates that maintain the same values and views that support the Constitution and fiscally conservative policies, get them elected, and then hold them accountable. Many Americans, Salima said, are angry about what is happening to the country and are simply being ignored by Obama and other liberals in Congress. States like Utah, Texas and Montana have been at the forefront of rejecting Obama's federal stimulus initiatives and refusing to be ignored, she said.

"We just want our republic back," she said. "We don't want socialism or fascism, and the government firing CEOs of companies is what that is."

But Saturday's event is far from a literal call to arms. Salima simply wants to alert citizens about the problems and provide them with the information and legal tools they need to take action to replace the leadership in the nation's capital.

"We don't want an armed revolution," she said. "My personal job is that they're all gone by 2010."

The owner of her own publishing company, Valor Publishing Group, Salima has used all means of modern technology, including Facebook, Twitter and blogs (http://teapartyutah.blogspot.com), in addition to traditional media of TV, radio and having volunteers hand out 5,000 fliers at recent public events to get the word out about the tea party.

Organizers have received parking permits for general parking at nearby Utah Valley University in its H and J parking lots. Parking for veterans, the elderly and the physically disabled will be available in Lakeridge Junior High's north lot, she said. Food and beverage vendors will be on hand to keep bellies full and bodies hydrated.

At least 20 veterans of World War II will be guests of honor at the event, with shaded seating under a pavilion, Salima said.

"The Patriot's Day Tea Party is a gathering of Americans from all walks of life, from all parties, all organizations, all with one goal. ... The restoration of the Republic and the Constitution reinstated as the rule of law. We are speaking up for America. Americans uniting in a single voice in defense of our nation," states the blog for Saturday's event.

Information about other tea parties being held across the country on Independence Day and the movement in general is available at www.teapartyday.com.