Four Sanpete communities are preparing Fourth-of-July celebrations that will include everything from pickleball tournaments to free concerts and fireworks. Here’s a roundup.
Gunnison
Gunnison City will be holding its celebration on the Friday and Saturday prior to the official holiday. The celebration starts on Friday with a freestyle motorcross show, auction and concert at Gunnison City Park, followed by fireworks. Although the celebration is sponsored by Gunnison City, everyone in the valley traditionally is invited to the events.
“Committees have been working hard to bring the best of the best to the celebration, and they are the key to making it a success,” Mike Wanner, Gunnison City councilman said.
The FMX (freestyle motocross) motorcycle show, starring former Gunnison resident Sean Nielsen, will be held at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m.
An auction sponsored by Lions Club and Gunnison City follow the motorcross show. The day will end with a free concert featuring country-music star Billy Dean, then fireworks.
Saturday, July 2 is full of events, starting with a flag ceremony at 6:30 a.m. and an American Legion breakfast from 7-8:30 a.m. The parade starts at 9, followed by bingo, games and lunch at the park. There will be free swimming from noon to 4 p.m., with an opportunity for kids to dive for money at 1 p.m.
Additionally, Gunnison is bringing back a car show, which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cars are eligible to register up until the event starts; registration is $20 for the first vehicle and $10 for any additional vehicles.
Moroni
“It’s been going on for years,” said Councilman Brad Aldridge, chairman of the Moroni July Fourth celebration this year. “I moved here 26 years ago, and it’s been happening since before then. My kids loved all of it growing up.”
Activities will begin on Thursday with a pickleball tournament that will run through the weekend. There will be a volleyball tournament on Friday. The registration fee for the tournament is $70; to register call city hall at 436-8359 or Sarah Olson at (801) 623-8807). The tournament will have co-ed four, and A and B Brackets.
Saturday activities consist of a barbecue turkey dinner with live music featuring Wulf Mountain, and a car show. The dinner will be at City Hall Park from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
“It wouldn’t be Moroni without a barbecue turkey dinner,” Aldridge said.
Car show entries will be lined along 300 West at City Hall Park. Registration is $15; contact Julianne Larsen for registration at 469-1263.
Activities on Monday, July Fourth, will include a family fun run, fundraiser breakfast, flag ceremony and activities in the park.
The Fireman’s Fundraiser Breakfast will be at the Moroni Fire Station from 7:30-9:30 a.m. The breakfast is free, but donations will be accepted.
A flag ceremony will follow at 8 a.m. at the Moroni City Hall. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., with a lineup along 300 West. To register for the parade, contact the city hall.
Activities in the park will be from 7:30 to 10 p.m. They include relay races, prizes, concessions, a free concert by the Phat Old Professors and more. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant
Hub City Days in Mt. Pleasant got started with a Retro Triathlon on June 18. (In a regular triathalon, participants swim, bike and then run. In the retro version, people run, bike and then swim.)
The next activity is Family Fun Night this Thursday. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. Admission is free.
The Hub City Rodeo will be held on Friday at the rodeo grounds with gates opening at 6 p.m. Pre-rodeo entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at mtpleasantcity.com.
The seventh annual Basin Drive-in Car Show, public unveiling of the Chief Sanpitch statue and the Hub City Days Rodeo will all be held on Saturday.
The car show will start with a cruise on Main Street at 6 p.m., followed the awards at 7 p.m. The gates for the drive- in open at 4 p.m., and the movie begins at dusk. The movie being screened is, “Blues Brothers.”
The unveiling of the statue will also be at 6 p.m. at a site fronting U.S. 89 near the rodeo grounds and Coffee Depot.
The rodeo grounds will open at 6 p.m. with pre-rodeo entertainment beginning at 7 p.m.
On Monday, July 4, activities begin with a fun run at 6 a.m. (Registration is available on the city’s website.) A breakfast will run from 7-10 a.m. at the city park.
The kids parade lineup will begin at 300 North and State St. at 11 a.m. and then head south on State Street.
Entertainment begins at 11 a.m. and includes the Spring City Bluegrass Band, Junction 89 and the Snow College Jazz Combo. Food and vendor booths will also be operating at the city park.
There will be a pie-eating contest at 2:30 p.m., followed by a Dutch oven cook off at 6 p.m. Visit the city website to register.
That evening, there will be a final rodeo with the pre-rodeo entertainment starting at 7 p.m. and concluding with fireworks at dusk.
Manti
“We’re excited to celebrate Independence Day together with our home town,” said Lindsey Ipson, co-chair of the Manti July Fourth celebration.
All of the activities will be on the Fourth of July. The American Legion Breakfast will be at 7 a.m. at the east pavilion in the Manti City Park. The breakfast will be $6 per adult and $3 per child.
The 5K run and kids mile run also begins at 7 a.m. To register, contact Brandon Norris at (435) 339-9482 or Jamie Fowles at 851-7201. A bike race will also begin at 7 a.m. Register at mantimtb.com/4th.
A patriotic program will begin at 10 a.m. with the grand marshal, Judy Chantry, speaking.
There will be entertainment and games at Manti City Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free swimming from 3-5:30 p.m. as well as a tennis tournament at Manti High School at 4 p.m.
The parade will start at 6 p.m. on Main Street. All entries need to be registered by Friday. Register by contacting Kristi Wintch at 340-1802.
The day will wrap up with a homerun derby and entertainment at the Manti City Sports Complex at 7 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dusk.
In the past, many of the evening activities have been at the high school. “We’ve moved it to the sports complex,” Ipson said. “We have some new games lined up, and we’re excited to have everyone watch the home run derby and play some games.”
