The first Riata Days program, 1948.
(From the Heritage Museum of Layton's photo collection.)
BEGINING in
1948 and spanning more than 40 years, the Fourth of July Celebration in Layton
City was named “Riata Days.”
This
reference was to highlight Layton’s agricultural and ranching heritage. Riata
means a long looped rope to catch animals. Its last usage was on July 4, 1990
and the festivities originally spanned July 2-5.
Beginning in
1991, “Liberty Days” became Layton’s title for its Fourth of July festivities.
The name was chosen from a contest to rename the event, since the former title
was no longer appropriate for a modern Layton City with limited agriculture.
A large crowd and the first Riata Days Parade in 1948, with the Stott Brothers Welding float.
(From the Heritage Museum of Layton's photo collection.)
Seven
different entries all submitted the same contest name. The
winners were Jolane Thornock, Melissa Miller, Dan Horton, Nathan and Natalie
Durbano, Jenny Kofoed and Davis Adams.
Prior to 1948, Layton had
no specific title for its Independence Day celebration, but for many years it
included a rodeo and carnival and the grounds of Layton Elementary School. Back
in that era, the Layton Jaycees and the Junior Chamber of Commerce were the
organizers of the celebrations, not Layton City government.
In the pre-Commons Park
days, Layton’s Fourth of July parades also ended at Layton Elementary School.
SOURCES: Davis County
Clipper Archives, Harris Adams and the Deseret News Archives.
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