Miner's Day - A True Park City Locals' Holiday and Tradition

The 114th Miner's Day festivities are upon us. Not only is it a fun-filled way to close the summer season, but it also offers an excellent opportunity for locals and visitors to revel in Park City's rich mining heritage and traditions.

The jam-packed Miner's Day programming begins bright and early at 7 a.m. in City Park with a community breakfast provided by St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church. A Funky 5K run and a Serious 10K, presented by Arts-Kids, will follow at 8:30 a.m.

The action moves to Main Street at 10:45 a.m. with the Running of the Balls, the Park City Rotary Club's largest annual fundraiser. Thousands of golf balls will be thrown down a track that is placed in the middle of Main Street, running from Java Cow to the Post Office. Kids gather along the track to throw the balls that bounce off it back on. Golf balls can be purchased from the Rotary Club before Monday or from members selling them on the street the day of the event. Proceeds benefit Park City and Summit County businesses.

At about 11 a.m., just following the Running of the Balls, two antique airplanes will fly over Main Street to get the Miner's Day Parade underway. Approximately 50 floats are included in the parade and are entered by businesses and individuals.

The remaining events continue in City Park throughout the day. They include kids activities, barbecue and drinks, a British automobile exhibit, and live music by Zion Tribe, Sideshow Ramblers, and Salt Lake Scots. The biggest attraction of the afternoon is typically the Mucking and Drilling competition, which has contestants demonstrating how mining was done more than 100 years ago. The competition begins at 2 p.m. in the skateboard parking lot.

Those looking to take the party into the evening can head to High West Distillery for live music by Motherlode Canyon Band, featuring Park City Mayor Dana Williams. The band will perform 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rest up, Park City, and brace yourselves for plenty of action this Miner's Day! See you on Sept. 5th in Historic Park City!