Luna’s weekend to shine
This weekend, the small village of Luna will swell at every corner, from a population of about 165 to well over 2,300. It is the annual Luna Pioneer Day celebration of the early settlers, and what began with simple family roots has grown to colossal proportions.
Pioneer Day (also archaically called the Day of Deliverance) is an official Utah state holiday celebrated July 24, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states that were originally settled by Mormon pioneers. Officially, it commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Ill., and other locations in the eastern United States.
All over the West, it is celebrated with parades, fireworks, rodeos and other festivities to help commemorate the history of a people. The Luna rodeo is by no means the only event that brings people to the community. There are family reunions, visitors and summer vacation campers at every turn enjoying the weekend in the cool mountains.
Street fair
The fourth annual street fair will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday evening along with Luna’s Pioneer Day celebration, at the parking lot of the Luna LDS Church building. The dunking booth will begin at 6 p.m., and there will be a lot of game booths for all, as well as the annual ice cream and pie-judging contests. Get your apron on and bring your favorite recipe for all to taste.
This year, there will be a hat contest for the best decorated hat, and for the children, there will be a T-shirt tie-dye booth. There will be hot dogs and lemonade. People should bring lawn chairs. All are invited, and there is no charge for a fun evening of socializing and play. For more information, contact Idonna Bradford.
Rodeo schedule
Saturday, the festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with barrel racing. At 10 a.m., there will be a parade on Highway 180 from the Luna Service Station to the church and back again. At 11 a.m., team roping will begin. The Luna Community Center’s annual barbecue dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $7 a plate, with an alternative hot dog dinner for $3.
The rodeo officially begins at 1 p.m.; tickets will be $10 for adults 13 and older, $5 for children ages 7 to 12, and children younger than 6 are admitted free. Concessions will be available at the rodeo grounds.
The celebration’s annual dance will be at the community center at 8 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, and the dance will feature Jess Carey and the Saddle Mountain Band.
Preparedness Corner
There will be one more canning session for the summer July 31. Orders for the last canning session of the 2009 season will be due to Joyce Laney by Sept. 27. The final canning session for the year will be Oct. 24.
There will be no canning sessions in August or September. There are still cookbooks and pre-canned items available for purchase. Contact Joyce Laney for more information.
Genealogy Corner
At heritage.uen.org/journals/index.html, Heritage Gateways has posted online journals and histories. If your ancestors came across the plains as pioneers, these may be of special interest to you. This Web site is sponsored by the Utah office of education, Brigham Young University public partnership and Utah education network.
Quote of the Week
“The pioneer who fought for his liberties now has descendants who take them.”
~ Author unknown
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