PROVIDENCE — Many of those that settled Providence were of German and Swiss heritage. From early on, sauerkraut was a staple food item in many city households.
After a lull some years back, Sauerkraut Days is back with a full week of activities.
On KVNU’s For the People program on Friday, Providence Mayor Kathleen Alder talked about its significance for the city.
“What’s exciting for us as a city, is that this particular celebration has always been citizen-driven, even when it first started out. And it kind of waned a little bit, after a few years we had some setbacks where we were producing sauerkraut, and the health department didn’t like the way we were producing it, so they shut it down, which is their job, I guess. But now we’re back”, said Alder.
Also on the program were organizers Nichole Bone and Ashley Poole. Nichole said she’s glad it’s back.
“We were approached a couple years ago, in fact (Mayor Alder) approached me, and just said, would you be interested in helping bring this back to our community. And I think we are both pretty excited to take this on….We have such a rich heritage in Providence. (It) was founded in 1859, we are the 2nd, next to Wellsville, community to be founded here in Cache Valley,” Bone explained.
One of the kick-off events is the Downtown Historic Tour, sponsored by CVTD and the Old Rock Church from 6p.m. to 8p.m. Monday evening.
The famous Sauerkraut Can Hunt is back and runs until Friday at the latest, watch for clues on social media (Providence Sauerkraut Days on Facebook and Instagram).
They will also have a Pickleball Tournament, the Parade is Thursday evening at 530p.m. that ends at Zollinger Park (the route is at providencecity.com).
Later on at the park is a fantastic Drone show. A caller asked how high those drones will be and how close to the action do you have to be? Ashley said you need to be pretty close to the park.
“I think they say you should be in the area. There’s plenty of seating at Zollinger Park where the Drone show will be taking place. But I think you want to be within a couple hundred feet of the show, to really get the impact of it,” said Poole.
Also on Thursday nights, there will be food trucks (even Brats & Sauerkraut), other vendors and yard games.
Friday is the Traditional Sauerkraut & Turkey Dinner (catered by Irongate), that is followed by a Youth Council Dance Party (8 – 12th grades) that is open to youth throughout the valley.
Saturday wraps up with a 10 K & 5K and a 1-mile Fun Run, a Pancake Breakfast (benefiting Ridgeline High School’s marching band) and a Ping Pong Ball Prize drop.
For more information: ProvidenceCity.com