This year’s Fiesta Days grand marshals are Clyde and Norma Nielsen, Spanish Fork residents for more than 40 years.

“We are lucky enough to live by Clyde and Norma Nielsen,” Ashley Christiansen said. “They are an incredible couple that serve and are always trimming people’s trees and fixing people’s sprinklers and always giving candy and balloons to all the kids in the neighborhood.”

Those who know Clyde Nielsen well, and many Spanish Fork residents do, have dubbed him the “Spanish Fork Candy Bomber.”

“Let me tell you, we call him the Spanish Fork Candy Bomber because he always runs around in his truck and he gives candy to kids on the sidewalk and they absolutely love it,” John Christiansen said.

“And balloons, he also gives out balloons,” Ashley Christiansen said.

Six-year-old Tanner Christiansen nodded. He likes the candy and balloons, he said.

The Nielsens moved to Spanish Fork in 1975.

As a pharmacist and businessman on Spanish Fork Main Street for 40 years, Clyde Nielsen retired recently. He has coached baseball for as many years and served in the church and in Kiwanis Club.

He admits he single-handedly may support the Tootsie Roll industry.

“I really love kids. I give away Tootsie Rolls and balloons,” he said.

Four of the Nielsen’s six children live in Spanish Fork, one has settled in Salem, another lives farther away in Kansas. Grandparents, the couple have 31 grandchildren.

“Our children and us have had wonderful experiences in this community, in the schools and in the church, and wonderful neighbors and people,” Clyde Nielsen said. “Our children have had a wonderful, wonderful experience. We’ve made some very dear friends. We love it here.”

“It’s been positive from day one,” Norma Nielsen said while nodding in agreement with her spouse.

Tootsie Rolls and balloons do not get you a grand marshal nomination, however the service the Nielsens have given to the community does, although you may be hard pressed to hear too much of the good they do if you ask them directly.

They are also huge Fiesta Days fans.

“We haven’t missed one in 40 years,” Norma Nielsen said of Fiesta Days.

Clyde Nielsen said his favorite event is the Fiesta Days Rodeo. Norma Nielsen wasn’t as readily decisive. 

“Just the whole thing, just the atmosphere, I love the parade,” she said. “And well, my family has a family reunion, a family picnic on the 24th, and there are usually between 250 to 300 people who get together. That’s my favorite thing, and they are from Spanish Fork.”

The Nielsens would recommend their favorite events for first time visitors to Fiesta Days – the rodeo, the parade, the activities in the park and the carnival.

Clyde and Norma found out about their grand marshal nomination for Fiesta Days in January. They can still remember their initial reaction to the news.

“Us?” Norma Nielsen said. “We’re average.”

“‘There must be some mistake,’ I thought,” Clyde Nielsen said. “I didn’t think I was that famous or that old.”

Norma Nielsen was a school teacher and took time out to care for her children. She built education programs for students, junior high English and high school French.

Clyde Nielsen completed pharmacy school and later bought City Drug. He served on the Arts Council, was a basketball and baseball coach, serves Boy Scouts Eagle Board of Review and is Boy Scouts region commissioner. He serves on the Utah County Board of Health and works to protect the community from epidemics and pandemics.

Clyde Nielsen is a Kiwanis and Fiesta Days Parade Committee member.

“The best way to describe Clyde and Norma Nielsen is they like to build kids,” said Elaine Hansen in her nomination letter. “They believe in the goodness of people and believe in the goodness of kids.”

More on the Nielsens can be found in the city Fiesta Days program.