Blanding’s 4th of July attracts a huge crowd

by Buckley Jensen
Staff writer

From the several hundred runners who took their marks for the 5K race at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, to the several thousand over spectators at the fireworks at 10 p.m., it was 16 hours of non-stop fun, food and games in Blanding on the Fourth of July.

In between, a crowd of thousands watched the parade and packed Centennial Park, where more than 50 food and commercial booths catered to every taste and interest.

The weather cooperated nicely. Half of Monticello seemed to join the fun, as did many residents from communities south of Blanding.

Hats off to Jon Hunt, overall coordinator, and the hundreds of people who helped with two days of non-stop events.

Add in the dedication of the new Blue Mountain Hospital, and this was a Fourth of July that will be long remembered by Blanding residents and many in other county communities.