It started as Founder’s Day many years ago which was run primarily by the Lions Club in Syracuse. During the 60’s and 70’s, the LDS Church started encouraging local Stakes to purchase and maintain “Stake Camps” for the enjoyment of church members. The Syracuse Stake purchased and maintained Camp Woodland in Morgan, UT. At that point Founders Day was changed to Fun Days and started being run by the LDS Church to help raise funds to operate Woodland Camp.

In 1987, Syracuse was designated as a Bicentennial City in Utah for a State Wide celebration of the US Constitution. As part of that celebration, the city had many events throughout the year honoring the US Constitution. These events were culminated with the first ever Heritage Days, including a parade and community event. 

The City, recognizing that there needed to be an annual city-wide​ celebration that served the growing diversity of the city, took over the planning and organization of Fun Days from the LDS Church and renamed the event Heritage Days. This also brought back the traditional community parade. The first year they used the funds raised by the parade to put up a monument at Centennial Park, honoring the US Constitution. 

Since 1987, the city has handled the planning and execution of the parade and Heritage Days events. There are a few members of the community who contribute but the city is looking to move more toward a citizen-run​ event in coming years and will be seeking volunteers. 

Today it has become a day full of fun, parades, face painting, jump houses, baseball games, food, family, friends, fireworks and so much more. This is a much anticipated day for the community.

What a great way to remember and celebrate those that came before us. Do you know the stories and names of those who settled this area? What do you think it looked like in the beginning years of Syracuse? Transportation, farming, schools, churches, families, neighbors, store owners, teachers, baseball.