Families gathering to join in activities, rodeos, music, parading pioneers, presidential memorabilia and a pageant all played a part in Cedar Fort's memorable weeklong Pioneer Day celebration.

The kids' rodeo kicked off the festivities with action and excitement for the younger set on July 18. The tiniest cowboys and cowgirls tried their skill at mutton busting while the slightly older riders guided their horses around poles and barrels and showed their roping talents. Cheering parents and families encouraged the competitors with yells and applause from the arena terraces.

Eighteen local performers entertained an appreciative audience at the concert in the park on July 19. "I especially enjoy the little ones. They're the ones I look forward to the most," said concert organizer Sue Jeffery. Relaxing in lawn chairs and on blankets, music fans had to agree that Cedar Valley's got talent. The concert ended just before a thunderstorm drenched the park and sent the crowd scurrying for home.

After a community cleanup day on July 20, Utah Valley residents gathered for a baseball game on July 21. The teams included everyone from senior citizens to little league players. Sideline fans enjoyed hot dogs and peanuts and cheered for every exciting play no matter which team scored a run. Both teams had home turf advantage, after all.

Cedar Fort's excellent cooks shared their culinary talents with everyone at the potluck social on July 22. Local performers sang, line-danced and played guitars during dinner. Cowboy songs performed by Glade Berry and Dan Metcalf provided a fitting prelude for the historical pageant that followed.

Narrator Vern Carson told the history of Cedar Valley as costumed residents filled the rodeo arena with the stories of pioneers, Indians, cattlemen and soldiers in a pageant written by the late Lois Cook. The Cedar Fort rodeo arena offered an expansive view of Cedar Valley and an outdoor setting that allowed campfires, horses and even a covered wagon provided by the Barry Miller family.

The traditional town-wide water fight progressed from youthful yard-to-yard squirting in the morning to an all-ages street-to-street drenching later in the day on July 23. The hot temperatures added to the excitement as water fighters tried to get as wet as possible while soaking everyone else. Armed with arsenals of water balloons, hoses, squirt guns and super soakers, the wet warriors made certain no one stayed dry.

The Cedar Fort Volunteer Fire Department served up a delicious Chuck Wagon breakfast to start the day bright and early on Friday. The elderly gathered to reminisce and youngsters were lured from their sleepless slumber parties by the scents of sausage and bacon.

Portraying the 2009 parade theme, "Adventures from the Past," the Duane and Marlene Allen family won first place with their old-fashioned wash day bubbles float. Second place went to the Troy and Shauna Gifford family for their Hawaiian hula float. Vern and Carlene Carson trekked with their own miniature covered wagon train to win third prize. Mounted costume parade prizes went to Katy Anderson, McKell Sorenson, Ryan Ault, Colleen Strickland and McKenna Mogle.

John and Jeanette Haws of Lehi shared their unique collection of U.S. Presidential memorabilia as a patriotic and educational part of Cedar Fort's 2009 Pioneer Day celebration. "My grandmother was from Cedar Fort, so it's a special place to us," John said. The Haws's display included campaign buttons, leaflets, newspaper clippings, videos and posters of U.S. Presidents from James Buchanan to Barack Obama along with colorful posters providing interesting facts about each president. Of special interest were a display commemorating Joseph Smith's presidential campaign and an exhibit exposing the political propaganda behind the book, "The Wizard of Oz." Visitors enjoyed posing for pictures with the life-size cardboard cut-outs of the presidents.

The carnival in the park provided games, fun and food with excitement for everyone. Face painting, a fishing pond, inflatable bounce-house and slide, golfing games and a wild bucking barrel kept the kids entertained while grown-ups sampled the Navajo tacos and strawberry shortcake.

Bucking bronco riders, bull riders, calf ropers and steer wrestlers showed their skill at the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo in the afternoon. Hometown girl Brittanee Newkirk thrilled the crowd with her first-place finish in the ladies' barrel racing.

A first-time fireworks display at dusk furnished a colorful finish for the celebration.

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