Payson City Events EASTER EGG HUNT The Payson City Easter Egg Hunt looked a little different in 2020 than in past years. With Easter landing at the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdown, we decided to try something completely new. Our annual Easter Egg Hunt morphed into a scavenger hunt for 20 2-foot, hand-painted, plywood Easter eggs placed/hidden throughout the city of Payson. Some were pretty obvious and others proved to be a bit harder to find. Even though it was not our traditional egg hunt, the residents of Payson enjoyed the experience and requested that we continue the event. The City of Payson and the Payson Santaquin Area Chamber of Commerce is planning for a live Easter egg hunt in 2021 (with a plan B prepared if needed), but we will also continue the scavenger hunt for the enjoyment of Payson (and surrounding areas).
PAYSON GOLDEN ONION DAYS This annual celebration was first held in 1929 as an opportunity for residents and former residents to renew old friendships and make new ones. Originally known as the Onion Harvest and Homecoming, the event honored Payson’s status as an agricultural district and outstanding producer of onions. The celebration was later renamed Payson City Golden Onion Days, and that is the name that remains to this day. Golden Onion Days is typically held each year on Labor Day weekend and includes events such as concerts, a carnival, a baby contest, a car show, a Dutch oven cook-off, 5K and 10K races, a parade and fireworks. Onion Days looked and felt different to many of Payson’s residents in 2020. Payson City Event Planner and Coordinator Janeen Dean did a wonderful job making the annual festival something that could still be enjoyed while scaling back a bit in areas to ensure safety during the pandemic. The Onion Days Parade was probably the event missed the most; however, the fireworks display was above and beyond what the residents have experienced in years past. Thank you, Janeen!
PAYSON SCOTTISH FESTIVAL The annual Payson Scottish Festival and Highland Games celebrate Scottish traditions in all forms: dance, music, food, competition and entertainment. The first festival was organized more than 30 years ago as part of Payson’s Golden Onion Days, but today the festival is held for two days each July. The first event, the Friday night Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), is held at the bandstand in Payson’s Memorial Park and features performers and dancers regaling the crowd with Scottish music, song, stories and dance. The next day, events begin with a parade on Payson’s Main Street followed by the opening ceremonies, which include music by bagpipe bands. Visitors can then enjoy a variety of activities ranging from craft and food booths to additional bandstand performances, athletic and bagpipe competitions and a Highland Dance competition. The day wraps up with more music by bagpipe bands and the announcement of competition winners during the closing ceremonies. 34
Payson Santaquin Connection • www.paysonsantaquinarea.com
