Spanish Fork residents ‘Celebrate Good Times’ at annual Fiesta Days Celebration
Tyler Pearson, of Louisville, Mississippi, competes in the steer-wrestling event during the first night of the Fiesta Days Rodeo held Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Rodeo clown Kaisen Harris, 5, looks to the crowd between mutton busters during the first night of the Fiesta Days Rodeo held Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Kyson Kay, 5, of Spanish Fork, takes a hit from a sheep as he competes in the mutton-busting event during the first night of the Fiesta Days Rodeo held Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
From July 12 to 27, the city of Spanish Fork will hold its annual Fiesta Days celebration.
The festival celebrates the city’s Spanish ties, with its name coming from Spanish friars who visited the area in search of a passageway to the Spanish missions of California in the late 1700s. And with Fiesta Days being held during the statewide July 24th Pioneer Day celebration, Spanish Fork also takes this time to remember its Mormon Pioneer heritage.
This two-week-long celebration is a favorite to many Spanish Fork residents, including Matt Guilbert who is in charge of the festival’s Pyromusical.
“Some of my fondest memories as a child were during Fiesta Days,” said Guilbert who is also a science teacher at Spanish Fork High School. “I still love it as an adult because it’s like a giant family reunion. I will see people I haven’t seen in 20 years at the Grand Parade and other events. I just love how Fiesta Days brings this community together.”
And with this year’s theme being, “Celebrate Good Times,” many Spanish Fork residents new and old, past and present, will be doing just that, says Scott Aylett, the city’s public information officer.
“I feel that this year’s theme is very fitting because Spanish Fork Fiesta Days is all about celebrating good times with family, friends, neighbors and your fellow Spanish Fork residents,” Aylett said. “It is about celebrating Spanish Fork’s heritage, history, and what makes Spanish Fork City the home of pride and progress. Each Fiesta Days event, from the Grand Parade and Fiesta Days Rodeo to the recreation activities and fireworks, brings people together to create experiences, relationships, and memories worth celebrating.”
Much like a high school or college homecoming game, Fiesta Days is, in a very literal way, a homecoming for Spanish Fork and its residents, both former and current. In fact, many family reunions are held in Spanish Fork around Fiesta Days, with the intent of having the family together to enjoy the festivities.
This year’s events will kick off at 6 p.m. on July 12 with the Pyromusical program that will begin with a musical performance by Ryan Shupe preceding the fireworks. This fireworks show will dazzle your eyes with fire in the sky that is dancing along to a musical soundtrack of epic proportions.
On the Fiesta Days schedule, there are several events, including the Fiesta Days Rodeo at the rodeo grounds and live performances of “Beauty and the Beast” that will showcase local talent. Much more local talent will also be highlighted in the “Spanish Fork’s Got Talent,” talent show. Athletes and fun-runners alike will lend their legs to the legendary Speedy Spaniard 10K and 1-mile race, followed by the Grand Parade. The city will then pause to observe Pioneer Day during a Fireworks Spectacular on July 24.
There are many more activities throughout Fiesta Days to help residents and visitors celebrate the good times that Spanish Fork has to offer. For a complete schedule, go to http://spanishfork.org.