Golden Onion Days – So much more than onions
Jesse Burk, 12, of Spanish Fork, rolls down the hill on E 100 S with the lead in his derby car, Double OO, during the soap box derby
Saturday,
Sept. 3, 2016 during Onion Days in Payson. The derby cars average between 18 and 20 miles per hour.
ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
The Payson High School Class of ‘95
rides on a firetruck at the start of the Payson City Onion Days Grand Parade rolls down Main Street on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Gary Herbert, left, and George Curtis of the American Legion 48 Honor Guard
croon their necks from the back of the crowd to watch Shenandoah play an opening concert for the Golden Onion Days festival in Payson on Thursday, September 3, 2015. The free concert drew thousands of fans and local families. It kicks off a long weekend of celebration in Payson, including marathons, talent shows and more, even showcasing a competition to find Payson’s biggest onion. JIM MCAULEY, Special to the Daily Herald
The City of Fun Carnival during Payson's Golden Onion Days at Memorial Park Friday, August 30, 2013.
Golden Onion Days, Payson’s annual city celebration, will see its 87th year this summer. The yearly tradition began in 1929 by then mayor L.D. Stewart and was originally named “Onion Harvest and Homecoming.”
According to a proclamation that was printed in the Payson Chronicle in 1929, the celebration was planned because “many former residents of Payson City feel and have expressed a desire to come back to Payson and bring their friends with them for the purpose of meeting old friends and forming new friendships.”
Because the area was considered an agricultural district, according to the proclamation, and “outstanding in the production of the onion,” the celebration was centered on the onion harvest.
The proclamation, written by Stewart, went on to read, “I do further urge that all businesses, homes and schools be closed Friday the 13th, and that all unite in making the parade an outstanding success.” The first celebration was held on Sept. 12, 13 and 14, 1929.
The celebration was later named “Payson City Golden Onion Days” and is still referred to this today. This year’s celebration, which will be held Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, incorporates the onion just as it did decades ago.
“Since our event is called Golden Onion Days, I try to incorporate the onion,” said Janeen Dean, community and cultural events coordinator. This year, there will be a “Biggest Onion Contest.” Entries for the biggest onion will be accepted on Sept. 3 from 7 to 11 a.m. Then, on the last day of the celebration, Sept. 4, the biggest onion awards will take place at 1:30 p.m. Locations are yet to be determined.
Another onion activity will be held on Sept. 2 with the Golden Onion Cook-off and Dutch Oven Cook-off. The cooking contests will happen at noon.
In addition to these activities that involve the onion, there are a large variety of other goings-on as well. The celebration kicks off on Aug. 31 with a Honky Tonk Tailgate Party in Concert presented by Mountain View Hospital and Peteetneet Amphitheater.
Throughout Golden Onion Days, Payson Community Theater will be presenting “The Addams Family.” There will be a City of Fun Carnival and a boutique and food in the park on Sept. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The days of celebration will end on Sept. 4 with a Grand Parade at 10 a.m., Hitman monster truck rides from 10 a.m. to dusk and a Family Onion Fun Children’s Carnival from 1 to 3 p.m. The grand marshal for the Grand Parade will be announced to the community at a later date.