Rural living has its advantages when it come to a hometown 4th of July celebration. It’s relaxing… no traffic to beat in order to get to the parade on time… no long lines to the rodeo grounds… and everybody gets front seats for the fireworks show.
My family and I love to spend time at our country mountain retreat, in the quiet, lush green, clear blue sky rural area of Tabiona, Utah… and celebrate with the hometown crowd.
We line up our chairs under a huge black willow tree in front of the school. The hometown folks are proud of their shiny firetruck and ambulance. These vehicles start the parade. “Reeve up those sirens and let the show begin.”
If you attend the Tabby 4th of July parade, it’s an event you’re not likely to forget anytime soon. You can even participate in the parade if your have a horse, a donkey, a cement mixer, a 4 wheeler, a “big” new truck, a wagon, a bike, or just two legs. Everyone from near and far is welcome to line up the end of the street. You can be old, young, or in-between. There’s no age discrimination here!
But… candy is a must… yes…if you’re not willing to stock up on candy to throw to the crowd… don’t bother getting into the line up. You must remember, the crowd is waiting on the sidelines, eager for the “sweet treats.”
Snooks Roberts is 93 years old and participates every year. This year he’s “hometown proud” of his 75 year old liquor still. He’s says it’s the same still that was owned by my grandfather Girolomo DiStefano during the prohibition. (But, that’s another story for another time.)
Look at this slab of rock. This translucent beauty is mined just north of town at the foot of the great Uinta Mountains… only place known to have this yellow stone. They found the vein only a few years ago and now the rock is being used for tables, counter tops and trinkets. They ship a fair amount of stone to Italy… how about that!
Rural area parades like to show off their “hometown glory”… the country girls… riding proud on their ponies. Every young lady has a chance for one shining moment in the Tabiona parade… all they need is a horse, a smile, and a waving hand.
Now… one thing is for sure… you don’t get overly tired of watching the parade floats go by. The event is so short that they turn around at the end of the street and come back by to make it worth the time you spent packing up the cooler with drinks and loading all those darn chairs in the back of the car.
After the last candy is thrown from the last 4 wheeler… everyone packs up their goods and heads to the school where the locals preform. Again… anyone and everyone can participate. Gives those full figure gals an opportunity to show off their dancing and cheerleading skills. And, any young man who thinks he can strum a guitar and sing is welcome to get his big start on the Tabiona stage. Has to have a big hat though!
In the evening, off to the rodeo grounds the crowd goes… to see the locals as well as a few professional get buck off their horses… after which the fireworks begin. We usually back our truck up to the fence, cuddle up in blankets and watch the spectacular event on our backs. Don’t ask me why… but they use to play bagpipe music during this affair… thank heaven that don’t do that anymore.
The evening is cool, and the small of the new cut hay is just the ticket for the ending of a wonderful day in “Rural America.”
“My Country Tis Of Thee….”
Till Later,
Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana
P.S. Rural areas usually have a little cafe where you can get great home style cooking….or at least a good burger and real fries. We love “The Sage”… or we run down the road to the “Hanna Cafe.” “Chicken Fried Steak anyone?”