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Carnival-goers wait in lines for rides as other attendees swing above the crowd during American Fork's Steel Days celebration Friday, July 19, 2019, at Art Dye Park.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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American Fork Mayor Brad Frost

Courtesy photo

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There is a great opportunity this month to celebrate the birth of this great nation and honor the rich pioneer history of our great state. Many in American Fork, and from all over Utah County, will also join in celebrating Steel Days, a long-standing tradition that has been happening since 1945. Whether you are new to this area or a longtime resident with family history here, you are welcome and wanted.

As I watch others celebrate, both with small family gatherings and at larger events, I am touched to see them making lasting memories with shared traditions. I am filled with pride and gratitude to be a member of the incredible community in American Fork and to be a piece of the larger tapestry of our state and country.

My happy and nostalgic memories of Steel Days start as far back as my youth and have stayed with me through the years. I remember going into my parents’ backyard as a child, and even later as an adult with my own family, to enjoy a barbecue and the Steel Days fireworks.

As our family grew, and as Steel Days grew as well, we moved to what would become the Big Show at Art Dye Park. Even today we gather there to lay out blankets, eat food, and enjoy music and fireworks. When I see the thousands of people enjoying the fireworks, I smile because I know from personal experience that there are probably thousands more in backyards across the city also enjoying them with their friends and family.

I am grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this great country that allow us to gather as families, friends and communities. I am grateful to our Founding Fathers for laying the groundwork for the rights and privileges we enjoy today. And I am grateful to those brave men and women who help defend those freedoms abroad so we can continue to enjoy them at home.

This year, as always, we have an exciting lineup of events planned for all ages at American Fork’s Steel Days. You can expect thrilling carnival rides, our parade, a car show, a drone show, tournaments, concerts, delicious food and so much more. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Our chamber of commerce, local businesses and volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure Steel Days is one to remember.

Special celebrations like Steel Days, our concerts in the parks or our summer movie series offer opportunities for us to come together as a larger community. These festivities are more than just events on a calendar; they are a time to appreciate the warmth and support of those around us and foster a sense of inclusion and shared purpose. The joy and camaraderie we can experience serve as powerful reminders of why community is so meaningful. A part of being human is the great need for belonging in our pursuit of happiness. Collective celebrations bring us together, positively impacting our quality of life and connecting us. I invite everyone to come together and experience their community.

American Fork Steel Days will be held from July 13-20. You can learn more about the schedule of events at steeldaysaf.com.