Donna: From Pony Express Days to Fiesta Days, this summer, Utah Valley will be filled with celebrations. These municipal events are part of our great quality of life. Family-friendly entertainment and carnival rides light up the summer. Often on a Saturday the only decision to make is which parade has the best candy.

Working with the Pony Express Days in Eagle Mountain, I was able to see the months of hard work that go into planning 28 events in 10 days. The scheduling alone can be a nightmare. But in the end, everyone takes a deep breath and gears up for next year’s rodeo, vendor fair, concert and carnival.

There are many reasons to hold city celebrations, but one important reason is the boost to the local economy. As visitors crowd the local streets to witness the events, they also stop in shops and buy hand crafted items from small business owners.

The marketing used to attracted visitors is as unique as the cities themselves. From the heritage of the old west with Lehi’s Round Up and Spanish Forks Fiesta Days rodeos to the intriguing food themed events of Payson’s Onion Days and Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove. The tradition of the Freedom Festival in Provo is iconic. There is even a city celebration dedicated to making a Splash with Saratoga Springs embracing their proximity to Utah Lake.

These festivals bring in great revenue for the most part and fund many programs, but beyond the money they also help our cities define themselves and brand their particular identities. Each celebration comes with fantastic volunteers, food, fun and families.

Val: When I was a young boy, some of the most anticipated events of the year were the city celebrations where I lived. Growing up in Snowflake, Ariz., I could hardly wait for the 24th of July, which was our city’s big shindig. I looked forward to the footraces on the church lawn (winner got 50 cents), the parade, the rodeo, the firing of the anvil and the fireworks at night. The day was crammed with fun from sunup to well past sundown.

Later, I moved to Orem and found great delight in the amazing City of Fun carnival that moved from city to city in Utah County during the summer months. I spent much of my hard-earned cherry-picking money on the Tilt-a-Whirl, the “Hammer,” and other rides that turned my stomach inside out.

I loved going to Provo to watch the fireworks that were the precursor to the Freedom Festival and to American Fork to see the Pageant of the Arts as part of Steel Days.

Then, of course, the highlight was the parade. Provo’s Fourth of July parade was summer’s shining moment, as far as I was concerned. All the floats and the airplanes and the cotton candy were a boy’s fantasy.

I relate these stories because I believe the city festivals are very important in the lives of our children. They create traditions that families rely on and share, sometimes for generations. Ask someone from Spanish Fork about the rodeo, and they will tell you about going with their parents and grandparents and later with their children and grandchildren.

There are also obvious economic advantages that come from the festivals, too. People come from out of town for reunions or to visit their families during these times. Businesses sponsor activities and events. Families spend money on barbecues and other activities.

Cities spend money on these festivals, too, and some argue that it is not a wise use of taxpayer money. I disagree. I think these festivals help define who we are in our communities. They help establish our community identity and brand.

Imagine Provo without the BalloonFest and the 10K Run and all the other activities associated with the Freedom Festival. Or imagine Pleasant Grove or Spanish Fork without the rodeo. It is part of who they are as a city.

I encourage you to get out and take part in your community’s celebration this year. Remember how you felt as a child when these occasions came along. Go to the parade. Eat some cotton candy. Walk through the carnival. Go out with a blanket and watch the fireworks. Have some fun and enjoy the celebration!

• Val Hale is president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. Donna Milakovic is the executive vice preside of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

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