Anticipating adventure: All are invited to have onion fun
The City of Fun Carnival during Payson's Golden Onion Days at Memorial Park Friday, August 30, 2013.
Bryley Tucker, 4, looks at other kids while waiting in line for the Payson's Treasures children's parade to start in Payson on August 30, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Spectators listen to rock band Restless Heart perform during the kickoff of the 2014 Onion Days at the Peteetneet Outdoor Amphitheater in Payson on Thursday.
Amazing adventures are in store for those who attend Payson Golden Onion Days this year. “Amazing Adventures Await” is the theme of this year’s event, and Labor Day’s Family Onion Fun holds promise of fun, for families, and almost everything is free.
“They can sit on the grass and relax if they want,” said Janeen Dean, chairwoman. “We wanted things that families could do without having to spend money.”
And they are not all about relaxation.
“There are train rides in the parking lot and a water slide coming down off the hill,” she said. “The kids absolutely love it. There is a petting zoo, face painting and carnival booths, with activities based on onions. One of those is ‘bobbing for onions.'”
“We will have more than 100 vendors at the park,” she said. “That’s around 80 boutique-type and about 25 food booths where people can choose to buy food.”
Another way families can have fun with onions is to participate in a contest for the largest onion grown in Payson.
There are four categories for the growers — kindergarten to sixth grade; seventh to ninth grade; 10th through 12th grade; and adults.
They should bring their onions to the Peteetneet Cultural Arts Center, 10 S. Peteetneet Blvd. (600 East, Payson) between 7 and 11 Sunday morning. The onions will be measured and the winners determined later.
They will officially be announced Monday evening at the bandstand.
Other events which happen on Labor Day are the car show and grand parade.
The car show is at noon at Park View Elementary, 360 S. 100 East, across the street from Memorial Park.
The parade begins at 10 a.m., starting at Payson High School and goes north on Main Street. More than 100 entries are expected.
In the Peteetneet Museum, there are several exhibits during the season. On the main floor, there are photographs of past Payson royalty in the Queens’ Room, historical society and monthly art gallery exhibits, along with an artifact collection and tabernacle exhibit.
Upstairs the Freedom Room will have exhibits covering all wars in which America has been involved. There is also a photo exhibit and a history of writing collection and an exhibit of sculptor Avard Fairbanks’ works.
On the lower level, there is an exhibit featuring 150 years of fashion, displaying clothing worn during different eras from 1850 to 1990. The Western Room features western art and memorabilia. There is a replica of a blacksmith shop and artifacts from pioneers and Native Americans. A Bride’s Room features a Victorian style dressing area for a bridal party.