Lehi Stock Parade hearkens back to city’s roots
Cooper Norris, 7, looks to his father, Brad, as they and Mallory and Macy Norris, 4, all of Cedar Fort, wait to get into the parade formation before the Lehi Stock Parade as part of the Lehi Round-Up city celebration Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Lehi. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
From right, Karson Paxson, 5, Asher Osmond, 8, and Nixon Paxson, 7, watch riders go by from the cover of shade during the Lehi Stock Parade as part of the Lehi Round-Up city celebration Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Lehi. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
The crowd watches as various groups of riders make their way along the parade route during the Lehi Stock Parade as part of the Lehi Round-Up city celebration Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Lehi. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A rider sports an American flag saddle pad during the Lehi Stock Parade as part of the Lehi Round-Up city celebration Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Lehi. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Riders make their way down North 100 East during the Lehi Stock Parade as part of the Lehi Round-Up city celebration Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Lehi. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Hoofs and manes were on display Thursday night during the Lehi Stock Parade — a stark contrast to mice and keyboards the town has become famous for in recent years.
As part of the city’s annual Lehi Round-Up celebration, the Stock Parade is a throwback to the days — not so long ago — that Lehi was just a small farming town. In a town quickly mushrooming into an urban tech center, it may seem odd to some to watch horses prance down Main Street, but its longtime organizers believe it’s an important way to honor the town’s roots.
“Even the new people moving here are craving a small-town concept. They come to Lehi because they want big-town conveniences but they want that small-town feel,” said resident John Lewis.
His mother, Peggy Lewis, was the Stock Parade’s organizer for more than 30 years. She passed away just a few weeks ago from cancer, so John Lewis stepped in to finalize parade plans.
“My mother worked really hard to keep it an authentic animal parade,” John Lewis said, explaining that it’s a bit of a novelty in today’s society because no motorized vehicles participate in the parade. The only things with wheels are carriages and wagons pulled by animals.
“It’s just a spectacle, one you don’t get to see anymore. It’s a lot of fun,” said Stan Lewis, John’s father.
The Stock Parade started long before the Lewis family’s involvement, though. Stan Lewis guessed it’s been a tradition for at least 60 or 70 years. He can remember riding in the parade as a young child. Stock parades were a regular part of many Utah celebrations in the early years, but Lehi is one of the last cities to still hold one that has no motorized vehicles, John Lewis said.
“We have such great support and the community has really gotten behind it,” John Lewis said explaining that even the rodeo is always sold out despite the influx of new residents. “The Lehi Round-Up is a family tradition. My new neighbors — they are new to Lehi and have zero Western heritage, but they love these events. Families look at the last weekend in June as a chance for family to be together.”
The Lehi Round-Up continues Friday and Saturday, and includes two other types of parades: a miniature float parade at 6 p.m. Friday and the city’s grand parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. All parade routes are available at https://www.lehi-ut.gov/roundup.