Executive Director Message

Clark H. Caras

And then on that very special day, as exciting as standing in front of Forsey's the day after Thanksgiving and waving to Santa; the carnival would snake its way south down Main to jaw dropping slobbers of excitement as it would roll past the Frost Top, World Drug, and Gift Fair, to the sacred ground of Center Street's west side.
Then as the Ferris Wheel rose from its trailer to become the highest point in town, it was like a unheard whistle had blown and merchants up and down the way began rolling everything you'd ever wanted out front doors of stores onto sidewalks that suddenly had no cracks. And families were drawn to the center of town to wander the maze of color and new smell in this transformation of turning a store inside out and the sidewalk sale became as celebratory as the Mammoth Parade.
Spanish Fork suddenly was the magnet drawing friends and family from Benjamin, Lake Shore, Palmyra, Leland, as yes, even family and friends from Salem were allowed to bring their dollar and meet you at the new library and venture into the mechanical smells and deco colored carnival with aroma of corn dogs, cotton candy, and sticky red candy apples.
Fiesta Days meant new boots, and a new yoked cowboy shirt with new snap buttons. And a one night trip into the grandstand of the rodeo grounds, that's wooden underbelly and tall fences became the best playground in the world for a bunch of kids celebrating pioneer ancestors crossing the plains, and yes, the slivers were worth it!
Fish ponds made of sheets and dunk tanks at the Park, and a parade just for kids down a Center Street alllllll downhill and requiring nothing to enter but a squeaky bike and a bit of crepe paper in the spokes.
A jump in the NEW pool at the high school, a pronto pup or brown topper and barbecue at grandpa's and Fiesta Days, aka, Christmas in July was done.
Last night I watched more than 1,500 American Flags "officially" retired as hundreds looked on from the confines of a shiny new rodeo arena. And an American warrior who'd just returned from war overseas spoke of his love of country and home. That home being Spanish Fork. A boy, now a man who in uniform was Sargent Kyle Harrison. A boy who grew up celebrating this wonderful celebration of home and family; who now as a soldier, but most importantly, a husband and dad was home again to kick off a new version of this wonderful citywide party, unique to our community and now far more sophisticated and inclusive; that is and always will be Fiesta Days.
Go to spanishfork.org and click on the Fiesta Days link for a listing of activities.