Those visiting Midway City Friday and Saturday will see the town transformed into the second largest festival in Utah, predicted to bring in about 100,000 attendees — Swiss Days.
The town’s traditional festival is a decades-old celebration of its Swiss heritage. According to the Utah Office of Tourism’s website, it began in the 1940s as the Harvest Festival and has since grown to become Utah’s second largest festival.
“What was initially the Harvest Festival, created to celebrate the then-community’s farmers and growers, soon took on a different tone and direction — and a new name, Swiss Days,” the office of tourism’s website visitutah.com states. “The festival set out to celebrate the Swiss pioneers who came to Midway and the Heber Valley, stunned by its similarity to their homeland. The view of the Wasatch Back — including Mount Timpanogos and the rest of the mighty mountains — is indeed visually arresting.”
According to a schedule displayed on the event’s website, Saturday’s activities will begin at 7 a.m. with a 10k run. At 8 a.m. the market will open and at 10 a.m. there will be a parade.
Along with a complete schedule of events, midwayswissdays.org also lists several tips and helpful details for those planning on attending — for instance, food vendors will only accept cash, attendees should bring plenty of water, the event’s shuttle lot is 800 North on River Road and baby carriers are strongly recommended over strollers.
Dogs aren’t allowed, but humans are encouraged to attend and join in the town’s celebration.