Press Release
After our fabulous Swiss Days event, don’t put away your lederhosen and dirndl dresses just yet! You’ll want them for the First Annual Midway Volksmarch for trails and open space on September 21. The pastoral Swiss themed village of Midway, Utah which was voted best small Utah city in 2017, is under tremendous development pressure. The rural preservation non-profit Pure Midway and Midway Historic Preservation Committee want to give Utahns an opportunity to preserve their favorite small town by fundraising for trails, historic preservation and open spaces. They thought a Volksmarch, a European themed community walk, would be just the thing to raise awareness of growth pressures while creating a fun, healthy tradition for Utah families.
The Midway Volksmarch will be a non-competitive community walk along a designated 5k or 10k route that passes historic homes and barns. The walk will feature signage explaining the area’s history and will take walkers to the top of sacred Memorial Hill. It will be followed by a festive party in the Midway Town Square with food, music and games. Participants will receive a collectible Volksmarch medallion called a ‘stocknagel’ for their walking sticks.
Each year, the Volksmarch will honor a Midway resident who embraces the town’s rural heritage. This year’s Volksmarch will honor painter, Robert Duncan, whose idyllic Midway scenes are celebrated nationwide. Robert Duncan has created a beautiful print of his Midway painting ‘Anniken and the Cows’ for the event. Funds raised from the sale of this print, Patricia Smith’s Volksmarch poster, walking sticks and other items will be donated to benefit trails, open space and rural preservation.
The First Annual Volksmarch for trails and open space will be held on Saturday September 21 starting at the Midway Town Square by the Midway Ice Rink. Participants can walk anytime between 9:00 am and noon. The party in Town Square afterward will end at 2:00. European clothing is optional, but make sure to wear walking shoes. Bring your walking stick or buy one at the event. We have to ask that dogs stay home please. Preregistration is highly encouraged as numbers may be limited. To pre-register, for questions, or to purchase Robert Duncan prints or walking sticks please visit http://puremidway.org . Bring your friends and family and start a new tradition with the Midway Volksmarch!
