Wasatch County and the State of Utah will celebrate together on Monday, January 4th. The event, Thrive 125, commemorates the 125th anniversary of Utah’s statehood.
The festivities include a televised event called “Thrive125: A Utah Celebration.” The 30-minute special will play on all of Utah’s network affiliates at 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the 4th. There will also be a repeat showing on PBS Utah at 8:30 p.m. that night. The show will feature performances from notable Utahns and celebrities. There will be music and dance, along with a celebration of the state’s “artistic heritage, cultural diversity, and scenic wonders,” according to the website.
Following the original broadcast, at 7:30 p.m., fireworks will fill the sky in all 29 counties of Utah. Wasatch County’s fireworks will originate from the top of Memorial Hill in Midway.
In a video message, Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter said, “We want everyone to watch them, but to just be socially distanced from wherever you are.” The Thrive 125 website states, “It is important that this celebration is COVID safe. People are encouraged to watch from a distance, in their cars, and in their front and back yards. The fireworks will be an exclamation point on a day of celebrations and in most counties will last 3-4 minutes.”
Utah became a state on January 4, 1896. State leaders applied for statehood seven times before receiving approval. The complicated process lasted 48 years. Utah finally became the 45th state to join the United States of America.
The Utah Department of Heritage & Arts created the Thrive 125 initiative, with support from Utah’s Governor and Legislature. More information about the event and Utah’s road to statehood is available on the Thrive 125 website: https://thrive125.utah.gov/january4th-event/. The site also includes a 12-minute historical video and additional resources for educators.
