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NORTHERN UTAH -- Three days of Independence Day celebrations, fireworks and food wrapped up Monday. It's back to work Tuesday, but until then the Fourth of July is still happening.
Instead of the dog days of summer, it was crisp rodeo weather Monday at This Is The Place Heritage Park.
"What we're trying to do is celebrate the holidays the way our early ancestors did," Matthew Dahl, executive director of This Is The Place Heritage Park.
And what that means is a kid's rodeo -- just one of many activities at the Liberty Days celebration, designed to educate and entertain.
About 4,000 people took part in historic events, including the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.
"We just had a Pony Express rider ride down Main Street, deliver a package of mail and then take another one and head east," Dahl said.
A little farther north, the Layton Fourth of July celebration also took place Monday. The Davis High School Marching Band may have come from the neighboring city of Kaysville, but they were a big hit in the Layton parade.
In Provo, the Grand Parade drew thousands of onlookers as historical floats made their way down University Avenue Monday morning.
"You just see a great spirit here with everybody. You don't see it in many other places," said one parade spectator.
Among those floats was a reminder of what the holiday is all about.
"For those who aren't here, who are abroad, we love you," said Cadet Weyburn with the U.S. Army. "God bless you and thanks for supporting us."
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Story compiled with contributions from Sarah Dallof and Keith McCord.
