Golden Onion Days in Payson is appropriately celebrating the golden anniversary of its flower and art shows.

These shows will take place Sept. 6 and 7 in the Queens Room of the Peteetneet Cultural Arts Center, 10 S. Peteetneet Blvd. (600 East, Payson).

The theme of the events is “Amazing Adventures Await” and there is a section in the flower show for a floral arrangement interpreting that theme.

Exhibitors may be from Payson, Salem, Santaquin, Goshen, Elk Ridge, Spring Lake, West Mountain and Benjamin. There are divisions for horticultural, artistic and junior exhibitors.

“We have had some of the cutest from the juniors,” said Alice Heslop, who organizes the show with her husband Curtis. “One time the junior arrangement won the queen of the show. It was a sunflower and they made a person out of it.”

In the horticultural division, the specimens can be asters, dahlias, zinnias, gladiolus, marigolds or roses. They may be a single specimen, three of a kind or a display.

Going along with the 50 years of the contest, there are parallels with previous years.

“The show started with the older people that are dying out right now,” Heslop said. “Some of the prizes we give are crystal vases like the old time. If someone has a grandmother who used to enter the flower show, they can donate a vase and bring it to me. It will be given in a person’s name.”

Anyone interested in making such a donation should contact Heslop at city offices, (801) 465-5200.

The artistic section includes the theme arrangement and a golden onion arrangement, interpreting the onion theme.

“Onion Days was started when the different cities decided their day would be what they raised a lot of at that time,” Heslop said. “Payson was a large onion growing community.”

Exhibitors should bring entries between 7 and 11 Sunday morning. The show is open to the public 2-6 Sunday afternoon and 12:30 -5:30 p.m. Monday.

Art show hours are the same, but exhibitors may bring their entries from 5-7 Saturday evening or 7-11 a.m. Sunday.

There is no charge to enter. Entrants in the amateur categories must be from Payson, Benjamin, Elk Ridge, West Mountain, Spring Lake, Salem, Santaquin, Genola or Goshen.

“We have had to limit our entries to three per person,” Heslop said. “They have to have the entries ready to hang.”

Categories in the art show include adult amateurs, opaque paintings, watercolors, drawings, photographs, e-dimensional and youth artists. Professionals are eligible to display their works, but their works will not be judged.

Entry forms are available at the Payson City Center, 439 W. Utah Ave. or the Queens Room door while entries are being accepted.