CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Santa Clara’s iconic Swiss Days festival, now in its 33rd year, is a hometown celebration filled with history and family fun. This year’s event is set for Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-23, and features a jam-packed schedule of activities you won’t want to miss.
“It’s a time when local residents can get together and just enjoy each other’s company under big shade trees,” Swiss Days committee member Lainee Frei said. “Seeing the community gather together is awesome.”
Swiss Days kicks off Thursday with a community dinner and live entertainment starting at 5 p.m. Choose between a hamburger or a hot dog plus baked beans, salad, chips and dessert. Dinner tickets may be purchased in advance at the city offices or at the event.
The opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature traditional Swiss dancing and appearances from Santa Clara city royalty as well as the 2023 Swiss Days grand marshals Wade and Marilyn Roberts. The Roberts, proud residents of Santa Clara since 1977, have established a decades-long legacy of community service.
This year’s opening ceremonies will also include the unveiling of Santa Clara’s very own Dowdle folk art jigsaw puzzle. Eric Dowdle, a Utah native, has been capturing the unique charm of cities and towns around the world for over 30 years and immortalizing these special places in his paintings and puzzles. Festivalgoers will have a chance to visit with him on Thursday evening to get a signed copy of the puzzle and ask questions about his artistic process.
Historic town hall is the place to be on Friday and Saturday. Activities include food and craft vendors, continuous entertainment under the big tent, a silent auction, a mooing contest, a yodeling contest, games, inflatables and more.
The Santa Clara History Museum will be open to the public and will feature booths that showcase the founding families of Santa Clara. The booths will be staffed by volunteers well-versed in the area’s history and genealogy who can help festivalgoers trace their roots to see if they have any pioneers in their family tree.
Hands-on pioneer activities for kids will be offered at Heritage Square, located at 3020 Santa Clara Drive, from 4-6 p.m. on Friday. Local band Soul What?! will headline the free concert at town hall at 7 p.m. And don’t forget to buy your Dowdle puzzle before they sell out.
The drone show, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on Friday, is an exciting new attraction this year — 150 illuminated and synchronized drones will take to the skies from the Snow Canyon High School football field to perform an aerial extravaganza set to music. Click here for a map of recommended viewing areas.
“It’s the first drone show in Santa Clara,” Frei said. “There’s never been anything like it.”
The 5K on Saturday morning is fun for all ages, and strollers are welcome. The race route begins at town hall and loops around historic downtown Santa Clara before finishing on Vineyard Drive. Prizes will be awarded to the male and female winners in the open and master’s divisions as well as the top three finishers in each age bracket. Participants can register online for $28 until Tuesday or in person at town hall until Friday.
From the Jacob Hamblin Home to town hall, thousands of smiling faces – plus the unique, ever-popular Swiss Days cows – will line Santa Clara Drive at 9:30 a.m. for a vibrant parade that pays homage to Santa Clara’s history and enduring small-town charm. Afterward, you can see classic and custom vehicles during the Red Rocks Car Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canyon View Park.
Santa Clara celebrated the inaugural Swiss Days in 1990 as a tribute to the town’s heritage. Swiss pioneers, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first settled in Santa Clara in 1861. They cultivated the land into a fruit and vegetable garden for all of Washington County. Today, Swiss Days welcomes about 10,000 total attendees every year.
See the full schedule of events on the Santa Clara city website.
Event details
- What: Santa Clara Swiss Days.
- When: Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-23, all day.
- Where: Santa Clara Town Hall, 2603 Santa Clara Drive, Santa Clara.
- Tickets: Free.
- Resources: Website.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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