Payson Golden Onion Days

Utah's oldest Labor Day tradition returns to Payson over Labor Day weekend, September 4–7, 2026 — a Grand Parade, fireworks over Memorial Park, the Onion Days 5K/10K, a carnival, car show, concerts, and the city-wide Treasure Adventure. A community celebration running since 1929.

Since 1929, the city of Payson has set aside Labor Day weekend for one of Utah's most enduring community celebrations. Golden Onion Days — named for the town's heritage as a top onion-growing district — returns over Labor Day weekend, September 4–7, 2026, centered on downtown Payson and Memorial Park with the Wasatch Mountains rising to the east.

The Traditions

What began as the "Onion Harvest and Homecoming" has grown into a multi-day festival that pulls generations back to the same streets each year, but the pace stays firmly small-town. The centerpiece is the Grand Parade — one of the more traditional parade formats in Utah County, with local bands, floats, and community groups — followed on the main night by a fireworks show over Memorial Park.

The rest of the weekend layers in the classics: the City of Fun carnival, a beloved baby contest for the littlest residents, a classic car show of polished American iron, nightly concerts on the Main Street stage, and the flower and art shows at the historic Peteetneet Museum. One of the most distinctive traditions is the Treasure Adventure — a city-wide clue hunt where participants follow a trail of riddles across Payson to find a hidden prize, with $3,000 going to the first to solve it.

For Runners

The Onion Days 5K and 10K are a Labor Day morning fixture, starting at 7 a.m. sharp from the Payson City Center (439 W Utah Ave.) with chip timing and a famously generous finish-line spread. It's a popular way to earn a holiday-weekend breakfast.

Good to Know

Admission to most events is free, and public parking is available. As with every Utah celebration this year, confirm the fireworks status closer to the date given the season's wildfire conditions. See the official Golden Onion Days page for the full schedule, and our Utah Valley late-summer and Labor Day events guide for everything else worth planning around. More of the valley's calendar lives on the Provo events page.

Good to know

• ✓ Utah's longest-running Labor Day celebration — held every year since 1929
• ✓ Grand Parade through downtown Payson, one of the county's most traditional parades
• ✓ Fireworks over Memorial Park on the celebration's main night
• ✓ Onion Days 5K & 10K on Labor Day morning (7 a.m., chip-timed) plus a classic car show
• ✓ City of Fun carnival, concerts, baby contest, and the Treasure Adventure clue hunt (grand prize $3,000)

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