By Bryce Burger
Birthdays only come around once each year, and this Saturday Bryce Jolley has decided to celebrate Utah''s birthday a couple months early.
With a birthday comes a party, and that is what is happening Saturday at the Ultimate Utah Celebration at the USANA Amphitheater.
'It is going to be a great event for families to enjoy,' said Bryce Jolley, executive producer for the event.
Jolley said the celebration will focus more on the birthday of Utah than on pioneers.
Jolley said the event is usually held on July 4, but this year it was moved to the July 24 to celebrate Utah''s birthday.
The event will start with the Davis High School marching band and local dance companies performing the 'National Anthem.' The song will be followed by a black hawk helicopter flyover.
A series of performers including Jericho Road will then take the stage.
Bret Bryce, member of Jericho Road said last year the band was a part of the Pioneer Day parade.
Bryce, a BYU graduate, said performing on Pioneer Day will be a huge thrill for him.
'We are so excited to be able to perform at the Ultimate Utah Celebration,' he said. 'Last year on the float was cool but this year being able to perform will be awesome.'
Bryce said performing with other Latter-day Saint artists will be a great opportunity and create a good environment for the concert.
Also performing Saturday is the Salsa Brava Orchestra. Salsa Brava plays Latin and Caribbean music.
'It is an honor and a privilege for us to perform,' said Godo Delgado, managing director for the Orchestra.
Salsa Brava is made up of artists from all over the world. Performing in Utah over the past years has helped the orchestra understand and love Pioneer Day and Utah.
'We are so happy and excited to help Utah celebrate this special day,' Delgado said.
Delgado said it is not everyday that a group or orchestra gets an opportunity to perform at an event like this.
Other performers include Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band, Eclipse, Peter Brienholt and Thurl Bailey
'We are celebrating Utah''s birthday so we wanted to get as many well known and popular local artists as we could,' Jolley said.
Jolley said at the end of the event there will be a fireworks display set to music from films that have been made in Utah, such as 'Footloose,' 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and 'Back to the Future part 3.'
'According to the Wall Street Journal, our fireworks are among the top ten public displays throughout the country,' Jolley said.
Before becoming a part of the Ultimate Utah Celebration, Jolley had been involved with other celebrations of July 24.
'I had been on floats before, but Saturday night is going to be different,' Jolley said. 'No one should miss it.'
For ticket information call 801-5824733.