By Shelley Gardner
Orem city will start the summer season this weekend with Family Summerfest Days, which feature activities, games, food, talent competitions, a parade, fireworks and more.
“The theme is family,” said Boyd Wilkins, the Summerfest coordinator. “We want to create an environment where families can come out to enjoy free fireworks and a big parade. We want them to be able to relax and enjoy the entertainment.”
Wilkins works for Orem City with the community volunteers on a committee that works all year to coordinate Summerfest.
The annual Summerfest celebration consists of two full days of activities ranging from food and information booths, to fireworks and parades.
The 2003 Summerfest activities began on June 7 with a 5K run sponsored by the Orem Firefighters
The weekend events will feature activities to suit a variety of tastes.
In Orem City Park at 250 East Center Street, residents can have a “Taste of Orem” with samples from the best restaurants in town, have a caricature drawn, enjoy the festivities of the carnival, have their blood pressure checked, and show off on a free golf chipping course.
Both days will also feature community information booths and arts and crafts booths in the park.
Entertainment on the park”s large stage begins tonight at 5:00 p.m. Jon Schmidt and Peter Breinholt will perform a joint concert at 7:00 p.m. Other local groups will entertain Summerfest participants throughout the weekend.
Saturday morning the Orem Rotary Club will sponsor a community Pancake Breakfast.
Children age 0-36 months can compete in a baby contest at the Orem Senior Friendship Center. Babies can be judged in street clothes, or in costumes that go with the theme, “A Day at the Zoo.”
The annual Summerfest parade will begin at 7:00 p.m., with this year”s Grand Marshalls Alan and Karen Ashton. Alan Ashton is the co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation. The Ashtons founded Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
The parade starts at 400 South and 800 East, proceeds North on 800 East to Center St., then west on Center to Smith”s parking lot.
Fireworks over the park will top off the Summerfest events at 10:00 p.m. Seats along the parade route and in the park are good places to watch the fireworks.
