Park City Celebrates Heritage on Miners' Day

The sounds of jack hammers will echo through the the hills of the mountain town of Park City, Utah as the 19th century mining town turned ski resort celebrates its past on Miners' Day on Monday, September 4. 

The day long festival will feature a parade, Miners' Day 5k run, skateboard jam, an exciting mining skills competition, fun for kids and adults alike in City Park plus the annual Running of the Balls on Park City’s historic Main Street. 

Known as Labor Day elsewhere, Miners' Day has its origins during the 19th century mining boom in the now world renowned ski resort town of Park City. In its heyday, Park City was one of the world’s leading producers of silver. The mining heritage is center stage each year at Miners' Day with the popular mucking and drilling competition where modern day miners keep alive the traditions of their predecessors.

Miners' Day features all day fun in the resort town of Park City. It kicks off with breakfast in City Park at 7:30 a.m., just in time for the start of the Miners' Day 5k run at 8:00 a.m. Main Street becomes the focal point with the annual Running of the Balls at 10:45 a.m. Get there early to buy your balls for an opportunity to win prizes! A fundraiser for the Park City Rotary Club and local non-profits, nearly 10,000 balls made the trip down Main Street last year. Balls are available in advance from any Rotarian or at the Park Silly Sunday Market.

The Miner’s Day Parade at 11:00 a.m. takes pride in being just a little bit different than your typical parade with community organizations having a little fun with their funky floats.

Food, fun and music are on tap all afternoon in City Park, with live music courtesy of Mountain Town Music, food from Kumbayah Kitchens, Olympic-like Kids Games at 12:30 p.m. plus beer on tap. A Skateboard Bowl Jam wraps up the afternoon beginning at 3:00 p.m. A full vendor village with a bouncy house, petting zoo and big red fire engine is available for kids from noon to 4:00 p.m.

This year's musical lineup features two of the region's most popular bands. Rumba Libra will kickoff the afternoon at 11:45 a.m. followed by Park City's own legendary Motherlode Canyon Band at 2:45 p.m.

One of the highlights of Miners' Day is the Mucking and Drilling Competition. Bleachers fill early in the parking lot across from the library. Miners' from around the intermountain west challenge each other drilling target holes in a rock, then put their skills to test running a mucking machine, loading mine tailings into a rail bucket as quickly as possible. It’s high energy and sweat, watching old and new miners strut their stuff. 

Check out the full Miners' Day schedule at www.parkcityminersday.org.

Miners' Day is produced annually by the Park City Rotary Club, with proceeds benefitting community non-profits.