St. George to celebrate 161st birthday with root beer floats, free entrance to its facilities

In this undated file photo, people gather to celebrate St. George City's birthday. A celebration will take place on Saturday and offer root beer floats and free admission to many city facilities, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of the city of St. George, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Looking for something to celebrate?

In this undated file photo, people gather to celebrate St. George City’s birthday. A celebration will take place on Saturday and offer root beer floats and free admission to many city facilities, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of the city of St. George, St. George News

This Saturday, Jan. 28, St. George Mayor Michele Randall and members of the City Council will celebrate Heritage Day — observing the city’s 161st birthday — by preparing free root beer floats and distributing other treats at the Social Hall (212 N. Main Street) from noon to 2 p.m., according to a news release issued by the city.

In addition to the refreshments, other freebies will be available, including:

  • Free admission to the Sand Hollow Aquatic Center (1144 N. 2400 W.).
  • Free admission to the St. George Recreation Center (285 S. 400 E.).
  • Free admission to the St. George Art Museum (47 E. 200 N.).
  • Free rides all day on SunTran buses.
  • The train at Thunder Junction (1851 S. Dixie Drive) and the St. George Carousel (100 West Tabernacle) will be free to ride all day.

“I invite the whole community to gather and celebrate our city’s history and heritage,” Randall said in the news release. “The festivities that are going on throughout the day are perfect for people of any age, and it could be a great opportunity to visit the rec center or art museum for the first time.”

The first settlers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley in mid-1847. In 1861, Brigham Young sent a group of 309 families south for the purpose of growing cotton, grapes and cultivating silk. St. George was settled toward the end of 1861 and chartered as a city Jan. 17, 1862.

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