Sanpete communities are getting ready for Pioneer Day festivities. Fairview, Spring City, Centerfield, May- field and Fayette are holding Pioneer Day events, and since July 24 falls on a Sunday this year, many activities will be held on Saturday, July 23.
The 2022 Spring City royalty (L-R): Matty Owens, third attendant; Makazsha Howard, first attendant; Katie Mellor, queen; and Elizabeth Allred, second attendant.
Fairview
An entire week in Fairview will be spent celebrating Pioneer Day, with plenty of activities to give everyone a chance to celebrate.
The festivities kicked off last weekend with sand volleyball and horseshoe tournaments at the Fairview Sports Park.
Wednesday, July 20 at 7 p.m. motorcycles, side by sides and ATV’s will take to the Keller Arena for some fast action.
On Thursday, residents can visit the Fairview Museum at 3 for the annual Heritage Art Walk to see the art pieces from throughout the state. The kids will take to the Keller Arena floor that night at the kids rodeo at 7 p.m. The evening will wrap up with the barnyard scramble where the kids can claim a new pet to take home.
Clomping down State Street, the annual Horse Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday. Following the parade, a rodeo will be held in the arena.
New this year is the Fairview Artisan Market, which will run from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, July 22, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. The market will feature artisans’ handmade goods from throughout the county and across the state.
The largest slate of events was saved for Saturday, beginning with a 5K run, a 1-mile kids race and the Fireman’s breakfast all at 6 a.m. The 5K will be sanctioned by the organization Runner Card. Racers need to register online at runnercard.com/roadrace/ public.raceGroup/976731.
Join in to see the presentation of colors at the flag raising ceremony at 7 a.m. at the City Hall. The children’s parade will make its way down State Street at 10:30 a.m. Then the main parade will follow at 11 a.m.
Following the parades, you can enjoy a vintage car show, old fashion games and the Artisan Fair between the Iven R. Cox park and the museum. The city’s annual demolition derby will begin at 7 p.m. The fireworks show, a collaboration of fire departments from several North Sanpete towns, will begin at 10 p.m. at the arena.
To close out the celebration, Cory Anderson of Fairview will speak at a Daughters of Utah Pioneers program reflecting on Fairview’s heritage. The program will be held at the Rock Church, 131 East 100 North on Sunday, July 24 at 7 p.m.
Spring City
Spring City will feature activities throughout the week, including the Itty Bitty Spring City contest from July 17-22. 22 close-up photos taken in advance of this week are included on Spring City’s website, springcityutah.org/pioneer-day.
The photos were taken along 300 E from 400 South to 500 North in Spring City on both sides of the street. Contest participants should identify the street address where a photo was taken. If a house number does not appear on a structure, participants should include enough information to clearly identify the property, such as a partial street address, the name of current or past owner, or other identifying information.
Entries must be submitted to Cynthia DeGrey by 7 p.m. on Friday, July 22. Her contact information is listed in the Itty Bitty Spring City Rules on the site. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners, respectively, and will be announced during the “Spring City’s Got Talent” program on Saturday, July 23, at 7 p.m.
The city will feature a 5K Run/Walk and a Children’s 1-Mile Run on Saturday, July 23, starting at 7 a.m. You can pre-register for the race on the city’s website, or in person at City Hall. You may also register on the day of the event, but please arrive by 6:30. Pre-registered individuals are guaranteed a t-shirt. The cost to register after July 8 is $15. Spring City’s Pioneer Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. and will start at 400 South on Main Street and go through town.
Centerfield
Centerfield will kick off the celebrating on Friday at 6 p.m. with a parade down Main Street. Grand marshals of the parade are Jeffrey and Karen Hansen. The parade will start at 100 North and end at 300 South.
At 6:30 p.m. following the parade, attendees can make their way over to Centerfield City Park on the corner of 100 South and 100 East.
At the park, families can participate in several games. Meanwhile, kids can get airtime jumping in the bouncy house. Once they master the air, kids can move on to water as they soar down the inflatable water slide.
Participants can also expect a variety of food trucks and a sweets booth with cotton candy and caramel apples. The corn hole tournament is back after its debut on the last Pioneer Day. The winning team will receive a cash prize, along with a traveling trophy.
To close out the festivities, the city will hold a fireworks show at dusk.
Mayfield
On Saturday, Mayfield will pick up the celebrating. Beginning at 7 a.m., there will be a 5K fun run/walk to raise money for Mayfield Youth Town Council’s future service projects and events.
The parade will make its way along Main Street and 100 West beginning at 10 a.m. Grand marshal of this year’s parade, Marvin Fox, will lead the procession. The parade does not require pre-entry; just show up at 9:30 and line up at 100 North and 100 West.
Starting at 11 a.m., there will be games for kids, food and entertainment at the park.
The Mayfield Lions Club uses Pioneer Day to raise money for improvements around town. In the past, money has gone towards renovating the baseball fields, the exercise course, gazebo and yearly additions to the park’s playground equipment.
One of the largest fundraisers is the annual auction. This year, there are a variety of items residents can expect to have an opportunity to bid on, said Lions Club President John Glauser.
Some of the items up for auction this year are a 14-carat gold diamond ring donated by Jonathan’s Jewelry in Ephraim, an 1880 antique round oak table, handmade teddy bears and welcome signs, along with several gift certificates and other donated items.
There will be lots of chances for kids and families to win prizes. One giveaway highlight will be children’s bikes. Kids will have the chance to purchase tickets to enter a wind machine, where kids will try to grab as many “dollars” as they can. Each “dollar” collected becomes a chance to win one of the bikes. Money is also being raised through the pig race and duck race.
Councilman Mike Bennett will be cooking the famous Sanpete BBQ turkey lunch. Price is $10 per plate.
This year’s duck race will operate differently than in the past. Due to the ongoing drought, there will not be enough water flow for the rubber ducks to float down 12-mile Creek, so the planners came up with an alternative this year.
The committee has decided to fill a large dump trailer with water and they will mix it with boat oars.
Prizes for the duck race include $1,000 in groceries from Gunnison Valley Market, $1,000 in meat from South Sanpete Pack and a large-screen TV.
Fayette
The town of Fayette will also be sharing in the Pioneer Day celebrations on Saturday. There will be a fun run beginning at the city park at 7 a.m. along with a breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m.
A parade will begin at 10 a.m. The celebration will con- tinue at the park with games and activities for all ages. A town lunch at noon will conclude the celebration.
