North Ogden hopes Cherry Days changes will add fun for residents

NORTH OGDEN -- The city is hoping changes made to Cherry Days celebrations will make the day more safe and more fun for residents.

The biggest changes will be during the parade, which will run along Washington Boulevard in North Ogden starting at 10 a.m. on July 4. Starting this year, no candy will be thrown from floats and no one will be permitted to get on or off floats once the parade starts. Candy will be distributed along the side of the road by runners associated with the individual floats.

Lorrie Frazier, who oversees Cherry Days for the city, said officials hope this will make the parade more safe and more enjoyable for everyone.

"We have gotten so much positive feedback since we decided to make the change," Frazier said. The feedback has come from those running floats as well as those who will be watching the parade.

Lee's Market and Smith's have each donated shopping carts to help people distribute candy. Frazier said people can go to either store and pick one up before the parade.

Another major addition to the parade is free grandstand seating for senior citizens in front of Weber State Credit Union on 2388 N. Washington. Seniors must pick up a ticket from the community services offices, 2705 N. 550 East, before the parade. The ticket also gives the resident an automatic parking spot behind the credit union during the parade. Frazier said that idea came through brainstorming when senior citizens were having trouble viewing the parade around many small children or from those that would crowd in front of seniors once the parade started. Frazier hopes the addition will be a plus this year. The area is mostly shaded as well, which will be good, she said.

Last year, the city started using many volunteers from local churches to help facilitate the many activities throughout the day and the number of volunteers has increased, she said. Two more stakes from Pleasant View have signed up to help out with the event as well.

The business association also wanted to bring actual cherries back into the celebration, so members will have bushels of cherries at park events as well as games all day with cherry-themed prizes.

"They have been working really, really hard on that," Frazier said.

Frazier is also bringing a lost medallion into the mix for festivities starting this week. The medallion has been hidden somewhere in the city and the resident who finds it will get to have the aquatic center for an evening party for up to 200 people. Clues are on the website each day.

Frazier heard of another city doing such a contest in the Midwest and thought it would be a great idea for North Ogden. She designed the 4-inch bronze medallion and hopes it will become a tradition for years to come.