Park City is prepping for a community celebration that honors the towns past this coming Monday. Here’s a preview of Miners' Day, sponsored by the rotary club.
Monday September 2nd is Miners' Day in Park City. Rotary Club member Sally Elliot explains the Park City tradition of celebrating Miners' Union Day on what is otherwise known as Labor Day, dates back to the creation of the American Federation of Mine Workers. Park City miners joined the union in the 1890’s. The first Miners' Day parade in Park City was 124 years ago in 1896.
“This was a real show of community support in 1896, as it still is, because Park City was a working persons town it was a blue-collar town,” Elliot explained. “The mine money all went to Salt Lake City and financial capitals in other places. The money from Park City built the mansions on South temple street. The people became rich and famous in Park City, left Park City because it was coal fired and smoky and dirty. The people who lived here had to pull together to make things work, and we're still doing that. That's who we are; that's what our community spirit is.”
Fellow Rotary Club member Canice Hart outlines the day which starts with a breakfast. The St. Mary’s Church fundraiser meal begins at 7:30 am at City Park. At 8:00 am at city park is the Bark City 5k. That all leads up to the running of the balls on Main Street.
“Between (Java) Cows and the post office is the world-famous running of the balls,” Hart continued. “If you haven't seen this, this is incredible. We’ll release this year just about 10,000 golf balls will be bouncing their way down Main Street. It's kind of a classic duck derby thing where you can buy a ball, it's like one ball is $5 you can get five for $20 you can win full season passes, stays at hotels, restaurants, I mean the list is huge. It's a giant fundraiser and 100% of the proceeds will go back into the community; in the form of grants to local nonprofits and charities, thanks to the Rotary Club.”
After the running of the balls the parade will begin with a flyover at 11:00 am. Hart says that the Miners' Day parade has a different feel compared to the Independence Day parade.
“Fourth of July parade is fantastic and it's an exciting event but it's pretty big now,” Hart said. “This one still feels very local and kind of close to us as a community.”
After the parade City Park will have the fun with kids’ games and activities, live music and food trucks. That leads up to the Mucking and Drilling Competition at 2:00 pm.
“The miners used to go down into the mines, they would drill holes put dynamite in it and they would leave,” Hart explained. “Then someone would come in and have to clean up all the ore that had been blown apart and that is called mucking. So, you have mucking, and drilling and miners compete for time and precision in this competition.”
The day wraps up with a skateboard competition at 3:00 pm at the skate park. More information about Miners' Day celebrations, including how to submit a float can be found here.
