SANTA CLARA – Swiss Days has begun, with its 2013 theme “Flood, Mud and Helping Hands” bringing a hometown celebration of history distant and recent. Swiss Days honors the Swiss pioneers who settled Santa Clara in 1861, and the people who came together to meet the community’s needs in the wake of a devastating flood one year ago.
Swiss Days features a 5K run/walk, pancake breakfast, car show, live entertainment, dog agility demonstrations, heritage displays, pioneer craft demonstrations, family history lectures, children’s activities, baking contests, exhibits and more.
The traditional highlight of the week, the Swiss Days Parade, begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Jacob Hamblin Home on Santa Clara Drive and proceeds through downtown past City Hall. This year’s entries will showcase motorcycles, antique cars, the presentation of the grand marshal and Swiss Miss & Mr., local businesses and schools, live animals, pioneer heritage and homemade floats.
Santa Clara celebrated the inaugural Swiss Days in 1990 in tribute to the city’s pioneer heritage, in which Swiss members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled the area. This year’s festivities also pay respect to the volunteers who answered a desperate call for help in the wake of the flood of Sept. 11, 2012, and the restoration that has occurred since.
On Tuesday, there will be a dedication of the new Tuacahn Wash Detention Basin, which was completed in February; on Thursday a commemorative monument for the Clary Bridge, across from the historic Jacob Hamblin Home, will be dedicated, followed by the Swiss Days opening ceremonies at City Hall at 7 p.m. A flood exhibit will be open during scheduled hours in the City Hall Banquet Room Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The celebration continues through Saturday, with activities planned throughout the week. See below for a complete schedule.
Event details and contact information
- What: Swiss Days
- When: Sept. 23-28, see schedule for details
- Where: Santa Clara, various locations; see schedule for shuttle options
- Contact: Santa Clara City Hall – 435-673-6712 ext. 201
Related posts
- FEMA money floods Santa Clara to repair Laub Pond Dam
- Community effort reopens Dutchman’s Market, 7 months after Santa Clara flood disaster
- Santa Clara dike bursts inspiration: Special ed student project finalist for $110K technology grant; your votes needed
- Tuacahn Wash Detention Dam completed, adds flood protection, tortoise habitat respected
- 15-year Tuacahn Wash Detention Basin project nears completion; tortoise habitat regarded
- Santa Clara to receive federal disaster funds
- Temporary channel setup in Santa Clara as flooding precaution
- Lightfoot’s fundraiser for flood victims, another chance to give a hand
- Flood Aid 2012 benefit concert, auction for Santa Clara flood victims
- ‘Flood the Love’ crossfit event to raise money for flood victims
- Gov. Herbert requests federal disaster aid for Santa Clara
- Thousands volunteer for Santa Clara’s post-flood clean up
- Santa Clara faces $3.7 million in infrastructure damage, FEMA little help to homeowners
- Community comes together in flood’s aftermath
- Dutchman’s Market, Frei’s, homes and helpers; knee deep in mud and water
- Dike break in Santa Clara, flooding damages businesses, home, call for volunteers
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.