Lehi is celebrating its 66th annual Round-up Rodeo this year with a full week of events, concerts and parades.

Lehi is offering activities for children and adults, featuring its rodeo as the central event Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, June 26-28.

"The rodeo has been an on-going celebration, a nice thing to have," said Lehi City Mayor Kenneth Greenwood. "The city supports it politically, and I support it also as a citizen."

The 66-year-old rodeo has been a centerpiece of the Lehi community, although it is not the first.

"We had rodeos before, but this is the 66th professional year of the rodeo," said Melvin Anderson, member of the Lehi Civic Improvement Association board of directors.

The rodeo centers for community spirit.

"Everything made from the rodeo goes back to the city," Anderson said. "In the past, we have supported kids competing in state competitions, given money to the local ambulance association and things like that."

The week before the rodeo, the John Hutching's Museum of Natural History offers free admission.

The museum displays pioneer and American Indian artifacts, as well as fossil and mineral collections.

Cowboy poetry and music gathering at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday will be the first of the activities with an admission charge, $3 per person, at the Legacy Center.

Thursday night a free all-horse parade will feature about 350 horses.

"It is one of the largest all-horse parades in the state," Anderson said.

The Lehi float parade will entertain Friday evening and Saturday morning. The parade will feature 22 to 24 miniature floats built by local church groups.

This year's theme is "Stories I Remember," and the grand marshals for the parade are Alvin and Elaine Schow, long time Lehi residents. Alvin Schow served the Lehi Civic Improvement Association for many years and used to be an LDS stake president.

Exercise and racing enthusiasts can enjoy a 5k biathlon Saturday morning.

Lehi businesses will also take part in the festivities of the week Thursday and Friday mornings with sidewalk sales.

Featured personalities at the rodeo will be the National Rodeo Finals announcer Wayne Brooks, and the four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association clown of the year, Lecil Harris.

Admission to the rodeo is $3 for children and $9 for adults Thursday night and $9 general admission for the rest of the nights.

Advanced reserve tickets can be bought at Ream's Western Outfitters in Lehi.



Copyright Brigham Young University 25 Jun 2003