The Payson City Golden Onion Days will celebrate its 95th anniversary of bringing locals and passers-by a sense of hometown magic and timeless traditions. 

The official festivities will go from August 30 to September 2, and will kick off with the annual Mountain View Hospital/Payson City Concert featuring the American country music artist Phil Vasser. This will be Phil’s second visit to Payson, and word on the street is that he will “wow residents with his new song.” The concert will begin at 6 p.m. on August 29, with doors opening at 5 p.m. That same night, there will be a screening of the Payson Community Theatre’s

“The Secret Garden” at 7:30 p.m.

Also headlining the week are the Payson City Royalty that consist of Jakenzie Jones, (Miss Payson), Roslyn Nielsen (1st Attendant), and Amberly Peacock (2nd Attendant). 

Jakenzie Jones graduated Payon high school with a 4.0, and will be attending Snow College to study dance and education as a member of the Badgerette dance team. Jones said that she has been watching the Miss Payson pageant since she was young, and has always dreamed of participating. Jones is also following in her mother’s footsteps, as she was crowned Queen in 1993. Jones hopes to inspire others to “unleash their inner spark” to help those she comes in contact with to gain confidence through self love like dance has done for her.

The Royalty will take center stage at the Grand Parade on September 2, but before that, a whole slew of events will take place throughout town. There is a pickleball tournament, 5K, 10K, night golf, baby contest, car show, biggest onion contest, a duck race, fair rides, a western dance, talent show, and much more. The festivities will commence with the last Community Band Concert at 8:00 p.m. on Labor Day evening. The band will be celebrating 122 years of band concerts in the park.

Event organizer Janeen Deen said that the events this year, and all other years would not have been possible without her parks crew. 

“I always talk about our parks crew,” Davis said. “I can sit at my desk and plan all kinds of events, but it’s them – Wes Barney and his team. Without their physical help to make it happen, there’s no way we could do this. I always appreciate everything they do when it comes to all the events for Payson City.”

The parade will be accepting entry applications through August 8, with mail in entries needing to be postmarked by August 8. 

For a complete list of dates and events can be found at .paysonutah.org/events/page/golden-onion-days.