Salt Lake City’s streets were lined with Pioneer Day revelers Wednesday morning for the annual Days of ‘47 Parade, Utah’s biggest Pioneer Day event.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
This year’s theme was “Stout Pioneer Hearts — Lift Others!” and the parade included more than 30 colorful floats.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The South Jordan Country Crossing Stake float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Spectators gathered early to celebrate the 175-year-old tradition honoring the first Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, who journeyed through Emigration Canyon into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Pipe Band at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
The parade route stretched from South Temple and State Street to the entrance of Liberty Park.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
Historians say the first celebration of that 1847 arrival actually took place in 1849, though the parade itself has not been held every year since. There was a jubilee in 1897, for the 50th anniversary, and Covered Wagon Days in the 1930s.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Americanas at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
In 1942, months after the United States had entered in World War II, the July 24th parade was a military spectacle — but the 1944 parade was canceled. And in 2020, the parade was postponed until the following summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Royalty Float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
On Wednesday, events continued throughout the day, including one at This Is the Place Heritage Park and the 30th annual Uniting Communities POWWOW.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) LDS Apostle David A. Bednar at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The City of Taylorsville Youth Council float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The City of South Jordan entry at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Bountiful Heights Stake float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Liahona Alumni Marching Band at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake Highland Stake float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Riders with Nuestra Senora at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The First Tongan Christian Brass Band at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Tooele City float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Murray City float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Detail of the Riverton Utah Central Stake float at the Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.