The end of June and beginning of July bring two of Malad’s biggest events to town back to back.  The Malad Valley Welsh Festival runs from June 30 through July 2, and the Independence Day celebration begins on Monday July 3, and culminates on Tuesday, July 4 with fireworks.  Residents and visitors can look forward to days of food, fun, games, activities, music, and unexpected surprises over what is predicted to be a run of warm days in the upper 80s.  Although there is a chance of rain on Monday, overall the weather should be perfect for a great time outdoors!

Welsh Festival--Friday 

The Welsh Festival is scheduled to begin bright and early on Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. at the 2nd Ward church chapel with an opening ceremony, and a presentation on the patron saint of Wales, St. David, by Lucie Washburn.  Dean Hughes will speak on “What it means to me to be Welsh” at 10:00 a.m., followed by a presentation by Dulais Rhys about the Welsh National Anthem at 11:00 a.m.

The student Poetry Reading and Competition will be held in the chapel from 1:00-2:00 p.m., and winners of the Youth Art Competition will be recognized during the event.  The Youth Music Concert will take place in the chapel as well, beginning at 3:00 p.m.  From 6:00-7:30 p.m. previous Welsh Festival Bard Cory Webster and his wife Jill will be presenting Welsh music in the form of an original “Radio Broadcast from the Pioneer Trail” performance.

Throughout the day Friday, a number of events will be running, including: Photo displays, family history displays, and Youth Art exhibit from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the church cultural hall, Celtic Music at the amphitheater from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., along with kids’ activities in the park at the same time.  The Presbyterian Church will be giving historic tours and the Oneida County Library will be holding a book sale from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The Co-op Building downtown will be hosting a Quilt Show and Bake Sale, sponsored by the Oneida Quilters Club from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Oneida Pioneer Museum will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for visitors, food and vendor booths will be open for business in the City Park from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Wagon Tours of historic sites will leave from the City Park from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Samaria will also have a range of events and activities from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Malad Valley Heritage Square, including the Welsh kitchen and tours of the historic cabins.

Welsh Festival—Saturday and Sunday

Saturday’s events will start even earlier, with the Dragon Half and Quarter Marathon, sponsored by MHS Cross Country at 6:00 a.m.  

The presentations and open exhibits will begin at the same times during the day as they did on Friday, though several events will end an hour earlier (see complete schedule for specific details).

The Piano Ensemble Concert will be held in the Church chapel from 1:00-2:00 p.m., and the Adult Poetry reading contest, announcement of fiction winners, presentation of poetry prizes, and Chairing of the new Bard will take place in the chapel from 2:30-4:00 p.m.   

At 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the 2nd ward building, Robert Washburn will present a fireside on the history of the Logan Temple, with music provided by the Welsh Men’s Chorus and others.

Fourth of July—Monday

Monday’s Independence Day events will begin in the evening, with the performance of the Theater Guild melodrama “The Veggie Villain” at 5:00 p.m. Also at 5:00 p.m. will be the lineup for the Kids’ Parade on 100 North by the Malad Drive-In.

At 5:30 p.m. the Kids’ Parade will begin and go west through the North Main business district, turning west on North Bannock to Four Points, and then south to the library.

From 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. the Snake River Band will perform at the Malad City Park.

At 6:45 p.m. the flag ceremony and announcement of the Volunteer of the Year will take place at the amphitheater.  

Malad’s Got Talent Preliminaries will take place at 7:00 p.m.  The event is open to all talents.  See the schedule for contact and registration details.

The day will close with a street dance with a DJ in front of City Hall beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Fourth of July—Tuesday

Tuesday will begin with the Malad Fire Department’s presentation of the Cannonade at 6:00 a.m.  At the same time, the DYW Fun Run will begin in the Allen Drug parking lot.  All racers will need to check in at 6:00 a.m. and the race will officially begin at 6:30 a.m.

From 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. the Oneida Search and Rescue pancake breakfast will take place at the Malad City Park.

Floats need to start lining up at 8:45 a.m. on 300 West.  Dignitaries need to line up on 200 West.

The Parade itself starts at 10:00 a.m. and follows the following route:  Starts at 400 N. 200 West, follows traditional route. Stops at the Veterans Memorial on Main Street for National Anthem and Taps, Follows Bannock Street to 300 West, then North to 400 N. 300 West.  

At 12:00 p.m. the Western stage play will start at Malad City Park.

The cheerleaders will perform at 1:45 p.m.

The Kids races will start at 1:00 p.m. in the City Park. 

From 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. a variety of events will take place, including Hatchet throwing, Pickleball, a Dunk Tank, and Foam Pit.

From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. the Mayor’s Youth Council will be teaching T-shirt tie-dying.

At 1:30 p.m. Malad Elementary PTO will host a Tug of War event in the park.

At 2:00 p.m., the Malad Theater Guild’s melodrama will be performed again at the Iron Door.

Also at 2:00 p.m., a kickball tournament sponsored by the Enterprise and Drive-In will be held on the baseball fields.

From 2:30 p.m. until the balloons run out, a water balloon fight sponsored by the City and Bamma Wammas will take place in the park.

At 3:30 p.m. head over to the fields again for softball games, and then at 5:00 p.m. for the Homerun Derby.

Malad’s Got Talent Finals will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the amphitheater, followed by the band the Saloonatics.  The evening will end at 10:00 p.m. at the Fairgrounds will a fireworks display sponsored by the Malad City Fire Department, the City, and Oneida County. 

The long Friday through Tuesday series of events should be full of things that everyone can enjoy.  Come spend time with your family, friends and community in the summer sun as the community celebrates its heritage and the Independence of its country! 

The Enterprise will be hosting a family kickball tournament.  We are hoping that families will put together teams. If your family (or friends) can put together a team, please call The Enterprise at 1-208-766-4773 and let them know. Last year we were able to have two adult games and one for kids under 15.