It’s been 177 years since the first Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, traveled through Emigration Canyon into the Salt Lake Valley — and the celebration of that day, July 24, remains a highlight of the summer for many Utahns.
According to historians, the first celebration of that 1847 arrival was two years later, in 1849. But the string of parades and other festivities was not an unbroken one. There was a jubilee in 1897, for the 50th anniversary, and Covered Wagon Days in the 1930s. In 1942, with the United States recently entered in World War II, the July 24th parade was a military spectacle — but the 1944 parade was canceled.
The Days of ‘47 celebration, as we know it today, was launched in earnest in 1947, for the centennial of the pioneers’ crossing the Wasatch Mountains into the valley. They have been held in Salt Lake City every year since, with one exception in 2020 — when events were postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo courtesy of Utah State History) Days of '47 Queen Marion Woodard and her attendants ride a float down Salt Lake City's Main Street in the 1945 Pioneer Day parade — held in the waning days of World War II. The photo was originally taken by a Salt Lake Tribune staff photographer.
While the bulk of Pioneer Day celebrations are in Salt Lake City, there are other events around the state for the holiday. Some are held on the 24th itself, which falls on a Wednesday this year — while others are happening on the weekend before or after. We’ve included as many of them as we could find in this listing.
Days of ‘47
These are the official events being organized and sponsored by Days of ‘47, the nonprofit that oversees the annual celebration of Utah’s state holiday.
Friday-Wednesday, July 19-24
Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo • Five days of rodeo events (no events on Sunday, July 21), with gold, silver and bronze medals going to the top riders. Utah State Fairpark, 1000 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $18 to $37, at utahdaysof47rodeo.com.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) RC Landingham, from Hat Creek, Calif., competes in the bareback riding competition at the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo at the Utah State Fairpark, on Monday, July 25, 2022.
Saturday and Monday, July 20 and 22
Float Preview Party • Get a close-up look at the floats to be featured in the Days of ‘47 Parade. Saturday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days. Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State St., Sandy. Free admission.
Monday, July 22
SUPer DUPer Day • A day of activities, celebrating the Sons of Utah Pioneers and Daughters of Utah Pioneers, at This Is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City. Events run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a devotional by Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, starts at 10 a.m. Tickets are $18.95 for adults, $16.95 for people 65 and older, $14.95 for children 3-11, and free for children 2 and under.
Wednesday, July 24
Deseret News Marathon • Four races — a marathon, a half-marathon, a 10,000 meters and a 5,000 meters — with the longer ones starting up Emigration Canyon. Marathon starts at 5:30 a.m.; half-marathon and 10K at 6 a.m.; 5K at 7 a.m. Registration required, go to run.deseret.com for information.
Sunrise service • Music from the Salt Lake Valley Combined Institute Choir, directed by Alan Sacket and Rick Decker; a flag ceremony by the Mormon Battalion, led by Greg Christopherson; a musical number by Days of ‘47 royalty; and a talk by Latter-day Saints general authority Evan A. Schmutz. Starts at 7 a.m. at 95 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Admission is free; everyone must be seated by 6:50 a.m.
Days of ‘47 Parade • The big event, with floats, marching bands, horses, clowns, dignitaries and more — this year with the theme “Stout Pioneer Hearts — Lift Others!” The route through Salt Lake City starts at South Temple and State Street, east to 200 East, south to 900 South, and east to 600 East, ending at the entrance to Liberty Park. Starts at 9 a.m. Camping on the parade route starts the day before.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A float from Salt Lake Holladay North Stake at the Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 24, 2023.
More events in Salt Lake County
Saturday, July 20
First Encampment Hike • A commemorative trek to the Salt Lake Valley’s first pioneer campsite. Starts at 7 a.m. at Donner Park, 2770 E. 990 South, Salt Lake City (up Emigration Canyon, just east of Hogle Zoo). The five-mile trek ends at First Encampment Park, 1700 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. Trekking is free; breakfast at the end is $5 a plate.
A Pioneer Day Concert • An evening of song, dance and storytelling, “celebrating the unique stories of Utah pioneers, including the early Polynesian settlers who established the historic town of Iosepa.” On the bill: Tonga Sisters, Junior Maile, the Bonner Family, Brandon Pak, Halau-Ku-Pono-I-Kamalani, Terry Goedel, and the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir. Show starts at 8 p.m.; gates open at 7 p.m. at 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City. Lawn seating is $15 for adults, $10 for youth (12 and under); premium seating is sold out; tickets available at deseretbookpresents.com.
Sunday, July 21
The Cookout • The third annual event with “food, vibes, music and games.” Fairmont Park, 1040 E. Sugarmont Drive, noon to 7 p.m. Free; registration required. Part of the OurSundays program, supported by the ACE Fund and the Black Faculty and Staff Association of the University of Utah.
Wednesday, July 24
This Is the Place Heritage Park • A full day of events to celebrate Utah’s heritage, including a candy cannon shooting out taffy, games, panning for gold, riding ponies and trains, arts and crafts, and a watermelon-eating contest. Runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at This Is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave. Tickets are $18.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors (65 and older), $14.95 for children (3 to 11), free for children 2 and under.
Uniting Communities POWWOW • The 30th annual event, organized by the Utah Native American Chamber of Commerce, with food booths, arts and crafts, entertainment, cultural sharing and more. Festival starts at 10 a.m.; the first grand entry (a roll call for dancers and drum groups) is at noon; activities continue through 10 p.m. A drone light show, sponsored by Salt Lake City, is scheduled for 10 p.m. Liberty Park, 600 E. 900 South. Admission to the powwow is $5.
Wasatch Front
Cache County
Pioneer Day Celebration, Logan • Wednesday, July 24, all at Willow/Horseshoe Park, 500 W. 700 South (unless otherwise noted): 1-mile and 3-mile run, starts at 7:30 a.m. (registration at 7 a.m.); open grass volleyball tournament, 8 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.); 3-on-3 basketball, 3-on-3 soccer, horseshoe, cornhole and spike ball tournaments, starting at 9 a.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.); yoga, 9 a.m.; family fun Zumba, 10 a.m.; pioneer crafts and games, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cache Pioneer Museum, 160 Main St.; parade, noon, starts at Center Street and 100 West, going west to 500 West, then south to Willow Park (at 700 South), noon; playland, 1:30-3 p.m.; duck dash, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.; candy cannon, 2 p.m.; bingo bonanza, 4 p.m.; entertainment by Relic, 5:30 p.m.; music by Bear River Ramblers, 6:30 p.m.; music by Vegas McGraw, 8:30 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m.
Pioneer Day Festival, Wellsville • Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Learn about our pioneer ancestors, as our living history interpreters talk about the history of Cache Valley from 1820 to 1920. Also includes the Cache Smokeout, an amateur barbecue competition. American West Heritage Center, 3025 S. Highway 89-91. Tickets are $10, plus $5 for five samples from the barbecue (while supplies last).
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brian Jenkins plays graces, a mid-1800s game with his co-worker Brianne Miller, during Pioneer Day festivities at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville, July 24, 2020.
Utah County
Fiesta Days, Spanish Fork • Friday-Tuesday, July 19-23 (except Sunday): Fiesta Days Rodeo, Fairgrounds, 476 S. Main, tickets at FiestaDaysRodeo.com. Thursday-Saturday, July 18-27 (except Sunday): Community theater production of “The SpongeBob Musical,” Spanish Fork High School auditorium, 99 N. 300 West, 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Monday; Saturdays and Wednesday, 2 p.m.; no performances Sunday or Tuesday. Friday, July 19-Wednesday, July 24 (except Sunday): Carnival, city office parking lot, 40 S. Main, 4-11 p.m. Friday, Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m-11 p.m. Saturday and Wednesday, closed Sunday; craft fair and food vendors, City Park, 49 S. Main, 4-10 p.m. Friday, Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m-10 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Saturday, July 20: PRCA Xtreme Bulls, fairgrounds, 7 p.m., tickets at FiestaDaysRodeo.com; street dance, Center Street between Main and 100 East, 8:30 p.m., free. Sunday, July 21: Concert by Lincoln Highway, City Park stage, 7:30 p.m., free. Monday, July 22: Performance by Hypno Hick, hypnotist, City Park stage, 7:30 p.m., free. Tuesday, July 23: Performance by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, City Park stage, 7:30 p.m., free. Wednesday, July 24: Speedy Spaniard River Trail 10K and Mile Run, starting at 6:30 and 7 a.m., respectively, both ending at Sports Park Complex, 295 W. Volunteer Drive, registration required; pancake breakfast, 8-10 a.m., $5, City Park; Grand Parade, 9 a.m., Center Street and Main Street, free; outdoor quilt show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Jones-Hughes Pioneer Park, 143 S. Main St., free; concert followed by fireworks, 8-10 p.m., Spanish Fork Sports Park, 493 W. Volunteer Drive, free admission. Friday, July 26: Sounds of Summer concert, performer TBA, 6 p.m., City Park.
Mapleton’s Pioneer Days, Mapleton • Thursday, July 18: Light the Path bike rally, 8:30 to 10 p.m., free, starting at Hobble Creek Elementary and running along the Parkway Trail between 1200 North and Maple Street. Friday, July 19: Hot dog dinner, 5:30 p.m., Mapleton City Park, W. Maple Street and N. Main Street, $6; Mapleton’s Got Talent, 6 p.m., City Park; family street dance, 8 p.m., City Park and Main Street, free. Saturday, July 20: Flag-raising ceremony, 7 a.m., free, Mapleton City Park; 5K and fun run, starts at 7 a.m. (fun run) and 7:30 a.m. (5K), registration required; starts at Mapleton City Building, 125 W. Community Center Way; Pancake breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., $6, Mapleton City Park; Parade, Main Street, 9 a.m.; Fun and games, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free, Mapleton City Park; Humanitarian Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free, Memorial Hall (northeast corner of the city park); Helicopter ping pong ball drop, 6:30 p.m., free (registration required in advance), Ira Allan Sports Park, 1728 S. 800 West; concert with The Salamanders, followed by fireworks, 8 p.m., free, Ira Allan Sports Park.
Pioneer Day Celebration, Orem • Wednesday, July 24: Food trucks, activities, and entertainment by Trash Panda Drum Group at 5:15 and 7 p.m., Vocalocity at 5:30 p.m., Tanner Gillman at 6:15 p.m., Made for Midnight at 7:30 p.m., ending with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Events start at 5 p.m., run until 9:45 p.m. University Place, 575 E. University Parkway, Orem. Free admission; no reserving spots in the Orchard before 4 p.m.
Pioneer Day Extravaganza, Provo • Wednesday, July 24: Pioneer crafts, a root-beer chug, live music and a children’s entrepreneur market. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Kiwanis Park, 1019 N. 1100 East. Free admission.
Weber County
Ogden Pioneer Days, Ogden • Friday-Wednesday, July 19-24 (except Sunday): Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium, 668 17th St., with drone show each night; Saturday, July 20, concludes with a concert by country singer Charley Jenkins. Tickets at ogdenpioneerdays.com. Wednesday, July 24: The Horse & Hitch Parade, followed by the Grande Parade, on Washington Boulevard, from 31st Street to 20th Street, starting at 9 a.m.
Elsewhere in Utah
Beaver County
Horse Races and Rodeo, Beaver • Tuesday-Wednesday, July 23-24: Rodeo starts at 7 p.m., Canyon Breeze Training Center, 371 N. Highway 153; “The Walking Dwarves,” Beaver Community Theatre production, at Beaver Opera House, 55 E. Center St. Wednesday, July 24: Parade starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by events at City Park, including foot races, games, lunch and a car show (at Center and Main streets); horse races start at 1 p.m. at Canyon Breeze Training Center.
Garfield County
Pioneer Day Celebration, Panguitch • Thursday-Saturday, July 25-27: Panguitch Invitational Rodeo, open to junior high and high school-age competitors. Triple C Arena, 800 N. Main. Sessions start at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and 6 p.m. all three days. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, $25 for a family pass; all-performance pass is $15 for adults, $10 for children. Saturday, July 27: Lions Club fundraiser breakfast, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Zions Bank, 90 Center St.; parade, Main Street, starting at 10 a.m.; fireman’s lunch, 12:30 p.m. at County Fair Building, 725 N. Main; kids games, 2 p.m., City Park, 800 N. Main.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Panguitch High School wrestling team tries to spray the parade crowd with water as they dodge water balloons in the Panguitch Pioneer Day Parade, on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
Kane County
Fireworks on the Water, Kanab • Wednesday, July 24, at Jackson Flat Reservoir, Kaneplex Drive: Kids activities starting at 4 p.m.; music with Haden Ballard, Chris Paul Band, Mesozoic and Casey Lofthouse, 4-10 p.m.; free hot dog dinner, 5 p.m.; church history walk, 6 p.m.; dance, 8-10 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m. Free.
Washington County
Pioneer Day Celebrations, Washington City • Wednesday, July 24: Lions Club breakfast at 7 a.m., Veterans Park, 75 E. Telegraph St.; parade down Telegraph Street, 8 a.m.; children’s booths and events in Veterans Park. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Free.
Wayne County
Bicknell International Film Festival • Friday-Saturday, July 19-20: Celebrating the “best” of B-movies, this year with the theme, “A FEAST-ival of Food on Film.” Friday’s events include a caravan from Etta Place Cider, 700 W. Main St., Torrey, to the Bicknell Theatre, 11 E. Main, Bicknell, starts at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of director Bert I. Gordon’s 1976 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “The Food of the Gods.” On Saturday, a roundtable with Steven Rosenberg of Liberty Heights Fresh starts at 10:30 a.m. at Robbers Roost Distillery, 700 State Road 24, Torrey, followed by another screening at 7 p.m., a compilation of food scenes from classic and not-so-classic movies, also at the Bicknell Theatre. Tickets and information available at EntradaInstitute.org.
