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Park City celebrates Miners’ Day on Sept. 2

(Photo courtesy of Park City Rotary Club)  The Running of the Balls is a popular Miners' Day event in Park City, with nearly 10,000 yellow golf balls rocketing down Main Street to raise money for nonprofits in the community.

(Photo courtesy of Park City Rotary Club) The Running of the Balls is a popular Miners' Day event in Park City, with nearly 10,000 yellow golf balls rocketing down Main Street to raise money for nonprofits in the community.

Park City • This 19th-century mining town turned resort haven will celebrate its past Sept. 2, with the 124th edition of Miners’ Day.

The daylong festival — which takes place each year on Labor Day — includes a community breakfast, a parade and a 5K run for humans and dogs, as well as games, live music and food trucks in the city park.

Miners’ Day has its origins during the 1800s, when Park City was one of the world’s leading producers of silver.

That history takes center stage during the Miners’ Day mucking and drilling competition in which miners from around the Intermountain West drill target holes in rock, operate a mucking machine and load mine tailings into a rail bucket as quickly as possible.

The Running of the Balls also has become a popular modern-day event, with nearly 10,000 yellow golf balls rocketing down historic Main Street to raise money for nonprofits in the community. Spectators “adopt a ball” to win prizes and support causes. Tickets are $5 for one ball or five balls for $20. They are available at the Park Silly Sunday Market and on Main Street the morning of Sept. 2.

Here is the 2019 Miners’ Day schedule. Most events take place at the city park on Park Avenue (across from the library) — unless noted.

7:30-9:30 a.m. • Free breakfast, but donations accepted to benefit St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

8 a.m. • Bark City 5K run.

10:30 a.m. • Running of the Balls, Main Street.

11 a.m. • Miners’ Day Parade, Main Street.

11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Food trucks.

11:45 a.m. • Live music with Jake & the Heist.

12:30-1 p.m. • Children’s games.

2-3:30 p.m. • Mucking and drilling competition.

3 p.m. • The Electric Moose Band.

3-6 p.m. • Skateboard Bowl Jam, Skateboard Park.

Visit parkcityminersday.org for more details.

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