Just for the record, West Valley residents really do have a full-fledged community celebration of their own: Westfest.
It's a good 'un, too. Three days filled with music, art, athletic events, fireworks, a parade and a Dutch oven-cooking competition.And it's scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at both Granger Park, 3500 S. 3600 West, and Centennial Park, 5400 W. 3100 South.
Organizers of the 1998 Westfest Celebration were a bit worried that their event may have gotten lost in the news that West Valley City was bidding to become the home of the annual Utah Arts Festival.
Then there was that humorous little flap last month when city officials jokingly suggested they were also interested in hosting the Park City Arts Festival, the Cannes Film Festival and the Festival of the American West.
(Some folks didn't get the joke and took all that seriously!)
But Westfest is back, and it's bigger than ever following the decision to expand the celebration to two locations and add several athletic events to an already extensive lineup of activities.
There is no admission charge for any of the Westfest events and competitions.
The community festival will feature three days of continuous entertainment on three stages. The talent competition will be held Friday night, and the annual Westfest Parade on Saturday.
New to the celebration this year are the Dutch Oven Cook-off at Centennial Park Saturday and a number of athletic events including a 5-kilometer run, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a tennis tourney and a figure-skating competition and exhibition at the Acord Ice Sheet.
The fireworks shows have also been expanded, and there will now be a "fireworks preview" on Thursday night in addition to a larger display Friday and the grand finale pyrotechnics show Saturday.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, the 1998 Westfest Parade will roll out of the Valley Fair Mall parking lot and wend its way to Granger Park via Lancer Way, Market Street and 3500 South.
Unlike most celebrations of this magnitude, Westfest is not a city function, although the West Valley City Parks Department and the Salt Lake County Recreation Department are listed among its sponsors.
It is run by Westfest International, a nonprofit organization made up of community volunteers.
Hours of the celebration are from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25; and from noon to 11:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27.
For additional information, call Sherrie Willden at 886-9351 about the talent competition; Kevin Conde at 966-3600 about the Dutch oven-cooking contest; and John Warnas at 886-9351 about the parade.
Call Todd Bean at 966-3600 for information about the athletic events and LaRene Carlson at 886-9351 about the entertainment.