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Cottonwood Heights Journal

Butlerville Days: A Celebration Of Our Heritage

Aug 03, 2015 03:16PM ● By Bryan Scott

Butlerville Days

By Laura Peterson

It’s that time of year again when friends and neighbors gather together to celebrate the brave Utah pioneers. 

The Butlerville Days, held at Butler Park (behind Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center) will be packed with entertainment for all ages.

The festivities begin on Thursday, July 23. The popular “Big Hero 6” will be shown at dusk, so bring your popcorn, blankets and kids, and snuggle up for a free outdoor movie.

Friday, July 24 brings with it the main events and are sure to offer “something for every age group all the time” said Dan Metcalf, Cottonwood Heights public relations specialist. 

You’ll need to get a good nights sleep and put your comfortable shoes on because Butlerville Days is pleased to announce that it will be offering even longer hours than before, and Midway Rides presented by the City of Fun will be there this year to add to the already exciting agenda.

Now is the time to register for the 5K run/walk, which will start at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 24. You can register in person at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center or online at www.runcottonwoodheights.com. Be sure to register before July 15 or you’ll miss out on the free T-shirt. The fee is $25 for adults and $20 for kids. The 5K will begin at 7 a.m. at the Rec Center. 

The main attractions begin at noon, which gives you plenty of time to recover from the 5K. For the kids there are Scales and Tails, which will feature an impressive reptile display which includes a 95 lb. tortoise, a giant python and an incredible 6-foot-long alligator. 

There will also be inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, Midway carnival rides, a car show and plenty of food booths. But don’t eat too much if you are planning on registering for the pie-eating contest, which starts at 6 p.m. Registration is from 12-5 p.m. at the information booth. 

The Historical Display put on by the Cottonwood Heights Historic Committee will also be showing at noon. Learn more about our early settlers and gain some appreciation of the celebration. 

“It is an opportunity to celebrate our existence as a town,” said Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore, Jr, whose favorite part of the Butlerville Days is always “any of the stage entertainment.” 

Entertainment, which goes from 4- 8:30 p.m., includes Modern Divide, Jordan Youth Choir, Foreign Figures and Charley Jenkins.

Staging for the kids parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. Kids can decorate their bikes and scooters with streamers and pompoms so they can march with the parade at 3 p.m. to “honor our past” said Metcalf. Make sure to register them at the staging area.

The skateboard competition will be from 4-7 p.m. at the skate park, old- fashioned games from 5-8 p.m. and the event that Metcalf is “stoked about” this year is the watermelon drop with free watermelon slices offered afterward with watermelons that have not participated in the drop. 

The main event begins at 10 p.m. Fireworks will be set off in sync with music from the stage. Metcalf said this is a spectacular event that locals don’t have to worry about “fighting the downtown crowds” to experience.

Mayor Cullimore encourages locals to “gather and enjoy the activities, socialize with neighbors and friends and enjoy our tax dollars at work.” 

Butlerville Days is not only a celebration of the area’s pioneer heritage and existence as a town, but also to celebrate and thank our local community and neighbors. 

“What makes our city great is our neighbors,” said Metcalf.  Cottonwood Heights staff would also like to express a huge thank you to those who make Butlerville Days possible: Jamie Jackson, who serves on the volunteer chair committee and Ann Eatchel, who is the Cottonwood Heights events coordinator. Volunteers are the driving force behind the celebration and are always welcome. Contact [email protected] or 801-550-8225.