The Town of Taylor has announced that there will be some slight changes to the annual Firing of the Anvil that is part of the Fourth of July celebrations. The event takes place at 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, as a long-standing tradition where a parade of people follow a specific route and stops are made along the way for an anvil to be fired into the air. Town Councilman Kyle Peck said, “We are trying to get people to follow the law.”
The parade route will change back to its original route beginning on Center Street at the Taylor ball fields, continue down Center Street to go north on 200 Street East to Cattle Lane, then over to Paper Mill Road. The anvil will then be fired at Freeman Park on Paper Mill Road and over to 700 Street West down to the LDS Stake Center located on West Willow Lane, then back to the ballfields where the procession began.
The major change to the program is that all vehicles participating in the procession must preregister and sign a waiver. That waiver must be displayed on the dash of the vehicle. All vehicles that wish to participate must be legal to operate on the roadway and all drivers must be 18 to operate the vehicle within the procession. “Because of safety issues we are cracking down,” said Peck.
Any vehicles that are not legal to operate or if a driver is under 16 they will be asked to park their vehicle and may be subject to a citation, possible impound of the vehicle, and subject to fines and impound fees. Tractors are allowed and can pull a trailer with occupants but must register and sign the waiver the same as any other vehicles.
Any disabled spectators who cannot get out of their car to watch are welcome to wait at the next upcoming anvil stop to beat the crowds. “We want them to be able to do that,” said Peck.
There are three ways to get the required waiver. Visit the Town of Taylor’s website and download the form, then print and sign it to display in the vehicle. Waiver forms are also available in person at the Taylor Town Hall or just prior to the parade the day of the event. It is encouraged to preregister with the waiver in advance. There is no cost to participate in the procession.
