Blanding set for 2025 Independence Day Celebration

by David Boyle
News Director
Fireworks, a parade, a prayer breakfast and a host of events are happening across Blanding city as the area celebrates the 249 Independence Day for the USA.
“Let Freedom Ring” is this year's theme for the Blanding 2025 Independence Day Celebration. Events stretch across five days starting July 1 and wrapping up on the 5th of July.
A full list of events can be found on page B8 of the San Juan Record with updates and additional information on the city website at Blanding.City/4th
The week kicks off with the Edge of the Seaters melodrama with shows at 7:00 pm at USU Blanding this years performance is titled “Foul Works at the Fireworks Factory” Performances are scheduled for July 1-5. Tickets are $7 adults, $5 seniors and students and $3 for children.
Events pick up steam on July 3 with chalk art in the park going all day. 9:00 am is the start of the Jason Workman Memorial Mini Madness Softball Tournament.
Also at 9:00 am is the Scales & Tales show featuring a 45 minute education show with lizards, snacks, turtles and an alligator. The event will take place at the Blanding Elementary School Cafeteria.
Thursday afternoon is the free Cedar Mesa Symphonic Orchestra performance at the San Juan High auditorium at 4:00 pm.
Later afternoon is the annual ATV Poker Run. with signed up riders driving along trails to collect a hand fo cards to enter into a drawing for prizes. Contestants must meet at 976 S Main by 5:00 pm, contact Josh Nielson for more information.
Starting at 4:30 pm is the annual Shane Warenski Memorial Midnight Madness Softball Tournament. With softball teams playing through the night.
July 4th starts early with the annual 5k walk beginning at 6:00 am and the 5k run starting at 6:30 and the mile run at 7:15 all located at Centennial Park.
The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is at 8:00 am which includes a special patriotic program including speakers and live music taking place at Centennial Park.
The parade begins at 10:00 am starting at San Juan High going down Main Street to 500 South. Booths, food and lots of fun follow right after at Centennial Park.
A horseshoe tournament, kids games at the softball field, and the 5th annual Toadhead races provide fun and games in the late morning and early afternoon.
From Noon to 4:00 is the Grayson Country Quilters Guild Quilt Show at the Blanding Wellness Center.
Food will be available at the park throughout the day including dinner. Evening entertainment includes the melodrama at USU Blanding and the free live concert in the park with music from Shuffle who has high powered rock covers from the 70’s through the 2020’s.
At full dark is the Fireworks Show at Centennial Park which marks a great end to the day.
The celebration continues on Saturday July 5th with early games at Central Park starting at 7:30 am including the 1st annual mixed doubles pickleball tournament and Cornhole tournament.
Starting at 9:00 am is the diving for dollars at the Wellness Center for kids aged 4-11 with participants placed in age groups.
The indoor Co-Ed volleyball tournament starts at Noon.
The week celebration closes the way it started with another showing of “Foul Works at the Fireworks Factory” at 7:00 pm at the USU Arts and Events Center.
Sign-ups and contact information for many events are available on the city website.
Sponsors for this years celebration include Redds Ace Hardware, Energy Fuels, Jones and DeMille Engineering, Utah Navajo Health System, Tri-Hurst Construction, UAMPS SmartEnergy, and Utah State University Blanding.