From Deseret News archives:
Taylorsville Dayzz bash is a blast
"It felt like I was in Liverpool," said Jim Dunnigan, chair of Taylorsville Dayzz event where the concert was held.
In addition to Imagine, Surf City All Stars, Jay White and the Utah Symphony also performed at the annual Taylorsville Dayzz celebration held June 29-July 3 in Valley Regional Park, 5100 S. 2700 West.
"It's become a big event where people from outside the state come to visit with relatives so they can see the fireworks," Dunnigan said.
The event included carnival rides, food and exhibit booths, a 5K family fun run, parade and auto show, in addition to the musical performances. Dunnigan anticipated around 25,000 attended the four-day event, designed as a birthday celebration for the city, which was incorporated 11 years ago.
"It's our birthday this time of year, and it's just fun," Elaine Waegner, Taylorsville event/volunteer coordinator, said. "It's hot, but everybody enjoys the summer."
One of the anticipated performances was a Neil Diamond Tribute by Jay White.
"(Jim Dunnigan) saw him in Las Vegas and loved the act and got him to come here," Waegner said. "He's performed 6,000 concerts around the world, on Jay Leno and all kinds of places.... We have big Neil Diamond fans."
White has been performing as Neil Diamond for 25 years and is the only performer endorsed by the artist himself. Dunnigan said his performance was so authentic that anyone who came in could easily mistake White for the real artist.
One of the only problems with putting on the event, Dunnigan said, is that it has become a victim of its own success. Because the committee wants to improve it every year, with a higher turnout, it becomes more difficult to do so.
"We try to make it a little better every year, and so far we've been able to do that," he said. "It's a challenge to improve upon it."
The event wouldn't be possible without the efforts of all the volunteers, Waegner said. It takes an entire year to plan the festivities. Only a couple of weeks after the event, planning commences for the next year's Taylorsville Dayzz.
"Besides the volunteers who put in countless hours, we have people from the community that come in and volunteer their time," she said. "When it all comes together, then it's fun."
E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com
