Summer in Utah Valley comes with its yearly traditions of city celebrations and gatherings.

In American Fork, that event is the annual Steel Days. The weeklong festival brings together residents both past and present along with surrounding community members and businesses to honor the city’s history and achievements.

Steel Days has been a staple in the north-central Utah County city for nearly 80 years. Though, origins of American Fork’s annual festivities date back to 1865, when the city observed what was called Timber Day. As opposed to a full week of events, Timber Day was an all-day picnic with music, entertainment and games that was observed until 1904, according to the city’s website.

During a majority of the next four decades, the city celebration also was branded as Liberty Day and Poultry Day.

In 1945, American Fork adopted Steel Days as its yearly festival. The moniker change aligned with an economic boost in the area at the time from Columbia Steel, which was providing jobs to thousands across Utah Valley.

For the last 79 years, the annual festivity continues to draw crowds to a barrage of activities, even bringing back past residents for a taste of hometown flair.

“People will contact us and ask us, ‘Hey, when is Steel Days going to be this year, or next year? We always plan our family vacation around that, or our trip home, so that we can be there for Steel Days,'” Kristina Wesemann, co-president of the American Fork Chamber of Commerce, told the Daily Herald.

The Chamber of Commerce, which organizes Steel Days, says gauging interest from the community is important in tailoring the yearly event accordingly.

An example of this resulted in the return of an event Wesemann said gained a number of requests from community members to bring back: the burnout contest during the Steel Days car show on the opening day, which was held Saturday.

The American Fork Chamber of Commerce partners with local businesses in efforts to offer many of the events and activities at Steel Days to attendees free of cost.

“We probably raise more sponsorship dollars than any other festival in the county,” said Josh Walker, who also serves as co-president of the American Fork Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of that has to do with years and years of building relationships with businesses and showing them the value of being engaged in the community in that way.”

This year, organizers adjusted the schedule to include two Saturdays. The Steel Days celebration kicked off last weekend with its car show, car cruise and a drone show.

Daily activities and events continue through this Saturday, including pickleball tournaments at Art Dye Park, art shows, a carnival, a garden tour, talent shows and much more.

Saturday features the popular Grand Parade, starting at 9 a.m. at Main Street and 100 East. The carnival starts shortly after at 10 a.m. as well as the Steel Days Fair. The night ends with the Big Show featuring former “American Idol” contestant Elleigh Marie Francom and many others slated to perform, followed by a fireworks show at Art Dye Park starting at 10 p.m.

“We have tried to really build this up into something where people can come and have a lot of fun,” Wesemann said. “You know, we put in a lot of work, obviously, to make sure that it happens. We love going over to the park on those final couple of days, or just kids splash night or any of our other events, and just seeing people have fun.”

For a full list of activities, visit steeldaysaf.com

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