This month is the 20th anniversary of the city of Cottonwood Heights’s incorporation and special highlights and activities are being planned to celebrate the city during the Butlerville Days festivities, July 24-26. For example, the city’s Historic Committee has been reviewing the history of the area, city and celebrations. 

Butlerville Days is the annual city-sponsored celebration of Pioneer Day. The title of which pays homage to some of the first recorded settlements in the area including the Butler Bench, Poverty Flats and Danish Town (1849).

The “Butler” name can be seen throughout the city and not just in the annual celebration, of course. But in Butler Middle School, Butler Elementary School, the numerous Butler streets, and the Butler neighborhoods. Residents have one specific person to thank for that. 

Legend has it that the Butler and McGee families lived in those early settlements in 1849, working in lumber, bringing logs down from of the canyon for home building and railroads. On the day a town meeting was called to organize the community, there was one more Butler brother in attendance than McGee brother, so the community was named after the “Butler” lumbermen. 

The first-ever Butlerville Days was a single day event. From the popularity with the local residents, it has now grown into a multiple-days festival with carnival rides, stage entertainment, art and sports competitions, food vendors and educational activities.

The Historic Committee will be sharing even more of the city’s history and legends during Butlerville Days at their booth and during their now-popular walking tours. 

As part of the “hometown feeling” that runs through the celebrations of Butlerville Days, the annual (and usually highly anticipated) parade will be on July 26 beginning at 9 a.m. Walkers and rollers will line up at 3500 E. Bengal Blvd. and travel along Bengal Boulevard to end in the Brighton High School parking lot (2220 Bengal Blvd.).

One of the longest standing events for Butlerville Days has been the fireworks show. This year, fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. on July 26.

Two years ago, the city tested out incorporating a drone show into Butlerville Days. This year, the drones will be back (schedule TBD). Previously, city councilmembers have preliminary discussed replacing fireworks with drones in the future, depending on the response from city residents and Butlerville Days attendees. 

Other scheduled returning events will include:

• Painting in the Park on July 24 from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. 

• Antique and Classic Car Show on July 25 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

• Yoga on July 25 at 7 a.m. 

• High Fitness Aerobics on July 26 at 7 a.m. 

To learn more about the 2025 Cottonwood Heights Butlerville Days hosted at Butler Park (7500 S. 2700 East), visit the city’s website at:

  www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/community/events/butlerville-days. λ