Pioneer Day commemorates July 24, 1847, when Brigham Young and company entered the Salt Lake Valley. It’s an official holiday where work and school are closed. The celebration starts with the Days of ’47 parade downton, then continues with festivals and rodeos, and finishes with fireworks. It’s like having a second Fourth of July.
And speaking of summer, it was 90 degrees at 9 p.m. the night before Pioneer Day, then it cooled down to 83 degrees by 5:30 a.m.
My parade buddy!
The Internet says that families will sleep on the parade route the night before to get a good spot.
The people in front of me showed up with three dozen Banbury Cross donuts.
Waiting for the parade to start.
People lept to their feet and put their hands over their hearts for the American flag that started the parade.
People lept to their feet and started waving enthusiastically when this white Mercedes went by. Finally I realized the sign says “President – LDS Church Thomas S. Monson.”
Governor Gary Herbert in a fine-looking Mustang. Both Herbert and Monson had four bodyguards walking alongside their cars.
Days of ’47 royalty: the queen and her attendants.
The back of the Sandy Utah East Stake float. “Drink and thirst no more.”
Chief of Police Chris Burbank in another fine-looking Mustang. (This one is a Roush.)
Tooele City. Miss Tooele and her attendants.
Draper Stake. “Wind … pushing toward dreams.”
The University of Utah!
“Music lifts pioneer spirits as they push west.”
“Education + Industry x Faith = Future”
“Santa in summer.”
Old cars! The red one broke down and had to be push-started.
“Families are forever.” “Your family tree, our future.”
Miss Lehi and attendants.
And finally, the parade organizers (yes, that is a Ferrari). According to the announcer, it takes 45 people working year-round to plan this parade.
Waiting for fireworks in Liberty Park.
My first Pioneer Day fireworks show!
The Days of ’47 parade.