If it’s summer in Utah Valley and you’re bored, well, it’s not because of limited entertainment options. Whether it’s steel or strawberries, freedom or golden onions, almost every town in the valley has a reason to congregate — while school is out and the weather is warm — to celebrate living and working together. There are usually fireworks and there’s almost always a parade, but the good people of (your town here) don’t just stick to the basics.

It only takes a little bit of driving and a sense of adventure to experience, among other things, mud volleyball, a fish rodeo, a geocache treasure hunt, a kickball tournament, a cake-eating contest, a stock parade, or free fresh strawberries and cream.

To help you spice up your summer recreation calendar, we’ve gathered the basic details about more civic celebrations than you could shake a Fourth of July sparkler at, from the end of May through the beginning of September. It shouldn’t be legal to have this much fun in one summer!

Pony Express Days in Eagle Mountain

When: Thursday through June 4

Info: (801) 789-6600 or

eaglemountaincity.com

Pony Express Days memorializes Eagle Mountain’s geographic connection to the old Pony Express Trail, from back in the day when mail on the hoof was among the speediest means of sending coast-to-coast dispatches. This year’s celebration kicks off on Thursday with a softball tournament, “mutton busting” and quilt show, and wraps up June 4 with a fireworks show and concert by country star Clint Black at SilverLake Amphitheater.

Also on the calendar are the Pony Express Days PRCA Rodeo, a parade, a carnival, a Dutch oven cookoff and a geocache treasure hunt, among numerous other events.

Saratoga Splash in Saratoga Springs

When: June 4-11

Info: (801) 766-9793 or

www.saratoga-springs.net

An aerial armada will soar over Saratoga Springs when the city kicks off its annual Saratoga Splash with a massive model airplane show. You can watch the pros fly their planes and even give it a whirl yourself — “buddy box”-style — after the main event.

The Splash also features all of the usual trappings — parade, festival, fun run, baby contest, concert — and is taking you to the movies on June 8 with a free outdoor film (and free treats!) at Sunrise Meadows Park.

Art City Days in Springville

When: June 6-11

Info: (801) 489-2700 or www.springville.org

If you aren’t “Living the Sweet Life,” then maybe you need a taste of Springville’s Art City Days. You can savor the flavor of the Nestle 5K Fun Run, sink your teeth into the cake-decorating contest or enjoy a nightcap of a cappella comedy with Moosebutter.

There are plenty of opportunities for artists — a quilt show, children’s art fair, talent festival and more —  as well as a parade, food fest, a skate park challenge, fireworks at Spring Acres Arts Park and a rodeo.

Orem Summerfest

When: June 10-11

Info: (801) 229-7000 or summerfest.orem.org

Almost every other city in the valley spreads out its seasonal revels for at least a week, but Orem’s lean, mean Summerfest crams all of the fun and games into just two wham-bam days. The big events are a parade, a carnival that blankets the Orem City Arboretum and a massive fireworks display.

There are lots of smaller activities — a car show here, a baby contest there — and this is the third year of Orem’s Tour de Habitat Lakes to Peaks Benefit Ride.

Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove

When: June 15-18

Info: (801) 785-5045 or

www.plgrove.org

Pleasant Grove is the caretaker of Utah Valley’s yummiest summer festival tradition with free fresh strawberries and cream available to all during its Strawberry Days celebration. If you enjoy good eats, however, be sure to save some room for the free pie-eating contest on June 17 at Royal Victorian Rose Garden.

Among the other fruits of the festival are a rodeo, a parade, a pet — er, make that “animal companion” — contest and the second annual Guns & Hoses 5K.

Lehi Round-Up

When: June 20-26

Info: (801) 768-7100 or

www.lehi-ut.gov/roundup

Celebrating summer has a distinctly Western flavor at the Lehi Round-Up, which includes a chuck wagon breakfast — yee-haw! — mountain man classes and a cowboy poetry gathering. There’s a horses-only parade, a horseshoe tournament and the three-day Round-Up Rodeo, voted Best Small Rodeo (Utah, Nevada and Idaho) in 2008 by the professional rodeo riders of the PRCA Wilderness Circuit.

Other, less buckaroo-centric events include a parade, city picnic, outdoor movie and competitions for golfers, runners and tennis players.

Genola Town Celebration

When: June 17-18

Info: (801) 754-5300 or genola.org

The annual Genola Town Celebration brings residents together in Genola Park for a two-day shindig. There’s a town breakfast and a Miss Genola pageant this year, and other information about the festivities should be available soon.

Family Festival in Cedar Hills

When: June 17-25

Info: (801) 785-9668 or www.cedarhills.org

Most of the fun in Cedar Hills will go down on June 25, the day that the city’s Family Festival breaks out a parade, carnival, baking contest, fireworks display, fun run, “dino dig” (kids dig for prizes in a sand volleyball pit) and more.

Some of the key events before the big day are an Orem Owls baseball game, family swim night in Lindon and an outdoor-cinema-style dinner and a movie event featuring the animated adventure film “How to Train Your Dragon.”

America’s Freedom Festival in Provo

When: June 25-July 4

Info: (801) 818-1776 or freedomfestival.org

There are Freedom Festival events in April, May and throughout June, but the festivities will really kick in June 25, when there’s a children’s parade down Center Street in Provo, and June 26, with the annual Patriotic Service, which this year features musical performers Daniel Beck, Benjamin Hale, Kerilyn Johnson and Joseph Paur, along with the American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic, 23rd Army Band of the Utah National Guard and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan.

You’ll have four days to catch your breath, and then it’s nonstop revels — hot-air balloon fest, Freedom Days carnival, grand parade — July 1-4 (except on July 3; no revels on the Sabbath), culminating in the Stadium of Fire extravaganza at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo with musical guests Brad Paisley and David Archuleta.

Steel Days in American Fork

When: July 5-9

Info: (801) 763-3000 or

www.afsteeldays.com

Bill Cosby would enjoy Steel Days this year, as the American Fork city celebration will include a soapbox derby for the first time (the contest page does not specify whether drivers are required to provide their own theme music). There’s also a geocache tour of local historical sites; a doll show, art show, quilt show and craft boutique; and an official designated time for drivers of actual, non-soapbox vehicles to cruise Main Street.

Also, you may be in Utah Valley on the final night of the festival at the Big Show, but you’ll also be in Kansas. The iconic ’70s rockers will carry on (my wayward son) from 7:30 p.m. until fireworks time at American Fork High School.

Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork

When: July 16-25

Info: (801) 804-4500 or

www.spanishfork.org

Like a lot of Utah County festivals, Fiesta Days has a signature rodeo, now in its 69th year. The Fiesta Days Rodeo isn’t just for cowpokes big enough to wear a 10-gallon hat, though: Young rancheros between the ages of 5 and 7 will wrangle sheep during the popular Mutton Bustin’ event.

There’s also a fish rodeo at the city park for young anglers to attempt to catch one of more than 500 fish. There’s a carnival, a bed race, a kickball tournament, a parade and fireworks spectacular (of course) and the 34th annual Speedy Spaniard 10K road race for both runners and walkers.

Mapleton 24th of July Celebration

When: July 23

Info: (801) 489-5655 or www.mapleton.org

Oh, the vagaries of the calendar. No self-respecting Utah Valley city would have a celebration on Sunday, so Mapleton’s 24th of July Celebration will be held this year on … July 23. Plans for 2011 have yet to be disclosed, but Mapleton City usually celebrates the statewide observance of Pioneer Day with a flag ceremony, community breakfast, parade, fireworks, and morning and afternoon activities for kids and families.

Salem Days

When: August (dates not announced)

Info: (801) 423-2770 or www.salemcity.org

The inhabitants of Utah Valley’s “City of Peace” are still finalizing some of the plans for their annual celebration, so keep an eye on the city’s website for updates.

Some of the events that are annual favorites are a mud volleyball competition and a cardboard-and-duct-tape boat regatta, and of course there’s a parade and fireworks. In addition to the usual celebration events, Salem City anoints a family of the year each year, and also bestows a community service award.

Orchard Days in Santaquin

When: July 30-Aug. 6

Info: (801) 754-5805 or www.santaquin.org

There’s a “cherry pit spit” contest that usually happens during Orchard Days in Santaquin and, really, what more could you ask for than that?

Rodeo enthusiasts will want to note that the Orchard Days Rodeo was named Rodeo of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association for the third straight year in 2010. There’s also an ATV poker run, a home run derby, a talent show, a bike race, a outdoor movie and a parade, among other events.

Lindon Days

When: Aug. 6-13

Info: (801) 785-5043 or www.lindoncity.org

Alexandre Dumas’s three musketeers might have a thing or two to say to Lindon, which has given its 2011 Lindon Days the theme, “Fun for one, fun for all!” Ahem. Porthos, Athos and Aramis would like to correct that to, “All for fun, and fun for all!” Thank you. That is all.

Some of the fun — for all and for one — includes a video game tournament, a car show, Huck Finn Days, Little Bits of Lindon, dances for both youth and adults, a grand parade and a concert-and-fireworks extravaganza at Pheasant Brook Park.

Highland Fling

When: Aug. 4-7

Info: (801) 756-5751 or www.highlandcity.org

The Highland Fling shares its name with one of the oldest traditional Scottish Highland dances — victorious warriors would perform the dance on a small, round shield with a sharp spike in its center, using nimble footwork to avoid podiatric perforations.

There are no battles between Highland and its neighboring communities, but the city fire department will be hosing down sweaty citizens during the Fireman’s Spray, and getting blasted with a firehose is sort of like fighting a battle. Other events: parade, fireworks, baby contest “Play Day Rodeo,” fine art show, fun run and more.

Alpine Days

When: Aug. 8-13

Info: (801) 756-6347 or

alpinecity.org/alpineDays.htm

Alpine City lives up to its rugged name by having a community hike to Lake Hardy — elevation approximately 10,000 feet — in the Lone Peak Wilderness Area north of town during the Alpine Days celebration.

There’s also a tennis tournament, a “Little Buckaroo” rodeo for kids of all ages, an outdoor dance for teens ages 14-18 and a toddler trot, as well as a parade, outdoor movie, fireworks, an evening of storytelling and more.

Golden Onion Days in Payson

When: Sept. 1-5

Info: (801) 404-7193 or

www.payson.org

They like to get festive in Payson. Onion Days is the annual civic celebration with all of the trimmings (parade, dutch oven cook-off, skateboard challenge, etc.), but the city has two other big summer bashes. The Payson Scottish Festival and Highland Games (www.paysonscottishfestival.org) will be held at the city’s Memorial Park July 8-9, and the annual Payson City Salmon Supper will be held Aug. 5.

OTHER EVENTS

Heritage Day (Spring City)

When: May 28

Info: www.historicspringcity.org/events/index.html

It’s just a brief jaunt down U.S. Highway 89 to Spring City, where you can take a historic homes tour or browse an art and antiques sale. Be sure to arrive early (8 a.m.) for breakfast!

Utah Scottish Association Highland Games and Scottish Festival

When: June 10-11

Info: www.utahscots.org

Thanksgiving Point in Lehi is the site of this celebration of Scottish culture, including competitions and feats of strength.

Mormon Miracle Pageant

When: June 16-18, 21-25

Info: www.mormonmiracle.org

A Utah classic for more than 40 years, this unique (and free) two-hour presentation of LDS Church history and scripture draws thousands of visitors to sleepy Manti (pop. 3,040) every year.

Colonial Days

When: July 1-2, 4

Info: www.freedomfestival.org

This Freedom Festival event recaptures the spirit of ’76 with a Benjamin Franklin Print Shop (get your own copy of the U.S. Constitution for just $5), Mayflower walk-through, Jamestown exhibition and more.

Llama Fest

When: July 16

Info: www.utahvalleyllamas.com

The furry, four-legged pack animal of the Andes is the focus of this annual event — held at Utah Valley Llamas in Spanish Fork, adjacent to Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple — which includes ethnic foods, live music and dance, and a llama obstacle course.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

When: Sept. 1-3

Info: www.timpfest.org

It’s the 22nd annual celebration of story and song in the shadow of Mount Timpanogos. This year’s featured guests are Milbre Burch, Carol Cain, Mitch Capel, Charlie Chin, Willy Claflin, Donald Davis, Beth Horner, Susan Klein, Kevin Kling, Bruce Lindsay, Antonio Rocha, Shelia Starks Phillips and Corinne Stavish.

Krishna’s Birthday Party (Krishna Janmastami) and India Fest

When: Aug. 20, Sept. 10

Info: utahkrishnas.com

Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork is well known for its annual Festival of Colors bash, but the temple also celebrates Hindu culture at two summer festivals.