Our Family - Celebration in Mapleton

 

The Parade

When we first moved to Mapleton in 1976, the entire parade was just a few kids on decorated bikes and trikes. They started at the bank and walked down the block to the corner by the elementary school. 

Our kids loved to decorate their bikes by weaving strips of crepe paper through the spokes. In 1982 David made our wagon into a covered wagon for Laura. David pulled her in the 24th of July Pioneer day parade which was most of Main street by then. 

A few years later in 1990 when Dan was six, David made a parade car out of our wagon for Daniel. Laura was very jealous.

One year I was asked to design a float for our ward (neighborhood of about 400 people). I asked the children to submit their ideas. Few did besides our daughter, Julene. We enjoyed making the float and the children enjoyed riding on it.

In later years, we even had cars, the high school marching band, small floats, riding lawn mowers, and horses in the parade. 

The Events

In the early days on Pioneer Day the town had a few simple games for the children such as “Ring Toss” and “Go Fish”. What we remember most was the fantastic desserts made the older women in town. They tried to outdo each other and it was scrumptious!

Later, there were lots of “bouncy houses”, a dunk tank, breakfast and lunch served, musical entertainment, and lots of games for the children. Families spent all morning visiting with each other and with neighbors.