Pioneer Day is a holiday Utah doesn’t share with any other state, marking the day — July 24, 1847 — when Brigham Young and the first Mormon pioneers, crossed Emigration Canyon and caught their first look at the Salt Lake Valley.
Since 1947, the centennial of that historic event, the modern Days of ‘47 celebration has been going in Salt Lake City. (The one exception was in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still fresh.) The Days of ‘47 celebrations include a parade through downtown Salt Lake City, a marathon from Emigration Canyon into the city, and a rodeo at the Utah State Fairpark.
Other cities and towns across the state also have events on Pioneer Day itself, which falls on Thursday this year, or during the week. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening:
Salt Lake County
Saturday, July 19
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.
Sunday, July 20
The Cookout • The fourth 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.
Monday, July 21
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 Ellis Ivory, founder and CEO emeritus of Ivory Homes and past executive director and chairman of the heritage park, and his wife, Katie, the park’s co-chair and “chief officer of details,” 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.
Monday-Tuesday, July 21-22
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. (Officially sponsored by Days of ‘47,)
Tuesday-Saturday, July 22-26
(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 State Fairpark, on Monday, July 25, 2022.
Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo • Five days of rodeo events, with gold, silver and bronze medals going to the top riders. Utah State Fairpark, 1000 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $22 to $44, at utahdaysof47rodeo.com. (Officially sponsored by Days of ‘47,)
Thursday, July 24
Deseret News Marathon • Four races — a marathon, a half-marathon, a 10,000-meter run and a 5,000-meter run — with the longer ones starting up Emigration Canyon. The marathon starts at 5:30 a.m.; half-marathon and 10K at 6 a.m.; 5K at 7 a.m. Registration is 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 Kevin S. Hamilton. 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.
(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.
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. (Officially sponsored by Days of ‘47,)
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 31th annual event, organized by the Utah Native American Chamber of Commerce, with food booths, arts and crafts, entertainment, cultural sharing and more. The 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.
Pioneer Memorial Museum, Salt Lake City • Thursday, July 24: The museum, at 300 N. Main, operated by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, will have an open house, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to mark the 75th anniversary of the museum’s dedication. Free.
Wasatch Front
Cache County
Dairy Day, Wellsville • Wednesday, July 23, starting at 11:30 a.m. Part of “Pioneer Heritage Month,” this event focuses on dairy farming, giving folks the experience of milking a cow, then making and eating historically accurate ice cream and butter. American West Heritage Center, 3025 S. Highway 89-91. Tickets are $3, children 2 and under are free.
Davis County
Electric Light Parade, Layton • Thursday, July 24, starting at 10 p.m., on Wasatch Drive from Gentile Street north to Constitution Circle — where a party with a DJ and blacklights will happen at Layton Commons Park from 10:30 to 11:45 p.m. Free.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Viewmont High School band marches in the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade, Friday, July 19, 2019.
Handcart Days, Bountiful • Friday, July 25: Park activities at Bountiful City Park, 400 N. 200 West, 5-9:30 p.m.; concert by Roy Rivers, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 26: Parade on Main Street, starts at 9 a.m.; more park activities, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; fireworks at 10 p.m., Mueller Park Junior High, 955 E. 1800 South. Free.
Utah County
(Evan Cobb | Daily Herald / AP file photo) Paul Bliss, a rancher and farmer from Salem, attaches a Betsy Ross flag to his freight wagon before the Fiesta Days Grand Parade on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Fiesta Days, Spanish Fork • Friday-Thursday (except Sunday), Jan 18-24: Carnival, craft fair, food in the park and other events, City Park, 49 S. Main. Saturday, Monday-Thursday, July 19, 21-24: Fiesta Days Rodeo, Fairgrounds, 476 S. Main, tickets at spanishfork.gov/events/fiestadays/rodeo. Saturday, July 19: Children’s parade at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 24: Full day of events, including Speedy Spaniard 10K run at 6:30 a.m., and kids’ one-mile run at 7:30; grand parade at 9 a.m.; concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. Go to spanishfork.gov for details.
Pioneer Day Celebration, Orem • Thursday, July 24: Food trucks, activities, and entertainment by Bluegrass Thunder at 5:30 p.m., Music City Groove 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 Celebration, Fairfield • Saturday, July 26: Celebration at Camp Floyd State Park, 69 W. Main St., Fairfield, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with museum and historic exhibits, tours of the historic Stagecoach Inn, pioneer games and activities. Food for sale from Beefsteak’s Bistro. Admission is $5 per person, or $15 per family (immediate members only).
Weber County
Ogden Pioneer Days, Ogden • Friday-Thursday, July 18-24: Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium, 668 17th St., with drone show Saturday and Monday-Thursday; Saturday, July 19, concludes with a concert by country singer Charley Jenkins. Tickets at ogdenpioneerdays.com. Thursday, 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 • Thursday, July 24: Parade starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by activities at City Park; horse races start at 1 p.m. at Canyon Breeze Training Center; rodeo at 7 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Go to ramblersutah.com for details.
Garfield County
Pioneer Day Celebration, Panguitch • Thursday-Saturday, July 24-26: 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 26: Pioneer Day Celebration, starting with 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.
Kane County
Fireworks on the Water, Kanab • Thursday, July 24, at Jackson Flat Reservoir, Kaneplex Drive: Activities start at 4 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m. Free.
Summit County
(Utah Symphony) Broadway stars Kelli O'Hara, left, and Sutton Foster are scheduled to perform together with the Utah Symphony at the Deer Valley Music Festival, in the Snow Park Amphitheater in Park City, on July 26, 2025.
Deer Valley Music Festival, Park City • Two Utah Symphony concerts, both starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South. Friday’s headliner is electronic-pop violinist Lindsey Stirling; Saturday features Broadway stars Sutton Foster and Kelly O’Hara. Tickets at deervalleymusicfestival.org.
Washington County
Pioneer Day Celebrations, Washington City • Thursday, 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.
Fireworks at “The Little Mermaid” • Thursday, July 24: Extended fireworks after the evening performance of “The Little Mermaid” at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins. The show starts at 8:45 p.m. Tickets range from $44 to $104, plus fees and taxes, at tuacahn.org.
Wayne County
Bicknell International Film Festival • Friday-Saturday, July 25-26: Celebrating the “best” of B-movies, this year with the theme “Elvis: Enduring, Enigmatic, Everlasting,” featuring movies starring Elvis Presley. 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 “Stay Away, Joe” (1968) at 7 p.m. On Saturday, a roundtable (speakers to be announced) at 10:30 a.m. at Robbers Roost Distillery, 700 State Road 24, Torrey, followed by a screening at 7 p.m. of “King Creole” (1958), also at the Bicknell Theatre. Tickets and information available at EntradaInstitute.org.
