The little town of Vernon is nestled in sagebrush 33 miles south of Tooele City and backdropped by the Sheeprock Mountains. The 2010 census found 243 people there.
But the small town’s residents celebrate the Fourth of July in a big way.
The town’s celebration starts this evening at 7 p.m. with the Miss Vernon Pageant at Vernon Elementary School .
Most of Vernon’s Fourth of July events are held at the town’s three-room school house. The school house was built in 1929. It has a coal-fired furnace, and a steeple with a bell that rings for classes.
Friday night, Vernon will host a night 5K run at Last Chance Lakes, a gated community five miles south of Vernon and west of SR-36 on the Pony Express Road. Runners and walkers can register at 9 p.m. at Last Chance Lakes.
The basic entry fee is $5 to run or walk. A $25 entry fee gets participants a T-shirt, according to Terri Pehrson, co-chair of Vernon’s Fourth of July committee.
Proceeds from the 5K race will support the Vernon Veteran War Memorial fund, she said.
Saturday morning, Vernon’s festivities kick-off early with a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for $3 a plate at Vernon Elementary.
At 8:30 a.m., Boys Scouts from Vernon will conduct a flag raising ceremony and Corbin Atherley, a local youth, will sing the national anthem.
The Vernon Town Fourth of July Parade will start at 10 a.m. on the north end of Main Street.
“If you miss something in the parade, don’t worry,” said Doretta Shumway, Vernon Town clerk. “The parade goes to the south end of Main Street and then they turn around and come back to the north end. You’ll get to see it again.”
After the parade, the town holds a program that usually includes a speaker, and maybe a musical number or a skit, according to Pehrson,
Games, relays, and a tug-o-war competition start at 2 p.m. followed by baseball games from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.
The celebration ends with a movie in the park at 9 p.m. This year’s movie will be “Back to the Future.”
“Come on out and celebrate with us,” Pehrson said.