SOUTHERN UTAH — It’s almost Pioneer Day, and the party isn’t going to plan itself. Here is a list of local events to get the celebration started:
Days of ’47 Dixie celebration
The Days of ’47 Dixie celebration in Washington City begins with a flag-raising ceremony at 7 a.m. in Veterans Park, 75 E. Telegraph in Washington, followed by a hearty breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is served hot and healthy for a nominal per-person cost. Price discounts are available for families to help those with extra mouths and tummies.
The parade starts at 9 a.m. The parade route begins at 300 N. 300 East and heads south to Telegraph Street, then west on Telegraph to 100 West, then north to 100 North.
Following the parade, the festivities resume at 10 a.m. in Veteran’s Park and also at Willard O. Nisson Park, located at 251 W. Telegraph St. There will be wagon rides between the two parks. Traditional foot races for all ages start at 10:30 a.m. Live entertainment will be ongoing the entire day and will wrap up around 2 p.m. Games include fish pond, football throw, dunk tank, face painting, rides for the kids and historical horse-drawn wagon tours. Food of all kinds will be available, including snow cones, cotton candy, ice cream, specialty sodas, burgers, and the popular “pronto pups” and funnel cakes.
The celebration will culminate with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. near the Washington City Community Center, located at 350 N. Community Center Drive.
- Flag Raising Ceremony | 7 a.m. | Veterans Park
- Breakfast | 7:30 a.m. | Veterans Park
- Parade | 9 a.m. | Begins at 300 N. 300 East, travels south to Telegraph Street, along Telegraph Street to 100 West, then to 100 North
- Celebration | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Veterans Park and Willard O. Nisson Park
- Fireworks | 9:30 p.m. | Near Community Center
Click here for map of parade route
Washington City
The Washington City Community Center will be hosting a party from 6-10 p.m. There will be open swim, vendor booths, the water balls and more. Guests are invited to head out to the lawn to watch the fireworks show at dusk. Cost $6 per person or $20 for a family of 4. Members get half off.
Ivins City Pioneer Day celebration
Local food vendors, snow cones, booths with arts, crafts, games and more. Entertainment will be Jerone Wedig and Mystery Train. For more information, call Ivins Parks and Rec at 435-634-0689.
- Pancake Breakfast | 7-9 a.m. |Ivins City Park, Main Street and 100 North
- Flag raising ceremony | Ivins City Hall, 55 N. Main St.
- Parade | 9 a.m. | Center Street
- Celebration in the park | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuacahn Amphitheater – “Wizard of Oz,” patriotic presentation and fireworks – Ivins
At Tuacahn Amphitheater, a “Wizard of Oz” performance is being offered on Pioneer Day with a special patriotic presentation before the show, including the singing of the national anthem. After the show, there will be an extended fireworks display and a tribute to the United States projected on Tuacahn’s giant water curtain. Also, a backstage tour and pre-show dinner are offered; admission to these can be purchased along with show tickets.
To receive a 50 percent discount on tickets to “The Wizard of Oz” on July 24th , visit tuacahn.org or call 435-652-3300 and use the promo code “FREEDOM50.”
- Backstage Tour | 6:15 p.m.
- Pre-Show Dinner | 6:45 p.m.
- Wizard of Oz | 8:45 p.m.
New Harmony pioneer program, softball game
The New Harmony Fire District will host a softball game at Fire Station Park, located on East Center Street, at 9:30 a.m.: “old men vs. young men.” At 4:30 p.m., there will be a pioneer program about Utah’s pioneer ancestors at the New Harmony Cemetery. Following the program there will be dinner at 6 p.m. and activities at the Hirschi Arena (also known as Bill Hirschi’s ranch). Activities will be available for all ages, including a parade. Everyone is welcome.
- Softball Game | 9:30 a.m.
- Pioneer Program | 4:30 p.m.
- Dinner | 6 p.m.
Kanab Pioneer Day
Kanab’s Pioneer Day events will begin with a parade down Center Street at 6 p.m. Following the parade, there will be a picnic in Jacob Hamblin Park, 500 N. 100 East, followed by a movie in the park at dusk. Please bring chairs or blankets. A flyer can be found here.
Enterprise American Legion Rodeo
The amateur rodeo will take place from Thursday, July 24 to Saturday, July 26 at the American Legion Rodeo Arena,1003 E. 100 North in Enterprise, off Highway 18. Live music will begin at 7 p.m., and the rodeo will take place from 8-10:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 11. For more information, see the rodeo website.
- Live Music | 7 p.m.
- Rodeo | 8-10:30 p.m.
Parowan 24th of July
Parowan’s 24th of July Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Main Street. There will be a big surprise in the sky at 10 a.m., and then the parade will begin. The firemen will have lots of great things for attendees to do in the park, so please support them. Fireworks begin at dusk. Please be safe, and have a great 24th of July.
There will be a rodeo beginning at 10 a.m. at the Iron County Fairgrounds arena in Parowan. Some of the events include barrels, poles, ranch events and saddle broncs. Admission is free to the public.
Later, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a party at the City Park on Main Street and Center. Chili and cornbread, time capsule and square dancing. It is also free to the public, and it is a great family activity!
- Parade | 10 a.m. | Main Street
- Rodeo | 10 a.m. | Iron County fairgrounds
- Party | 6:30 p.m. | City Park on Main Street and Center
- Fireworks | Dusk
Duck Creek Days Chili Cook-off
In the community of Duck Creek Village, there will be live music and dancing, a chili cook-off and local vendors from Friday, July 25 to Saturday July, 26. For more information, call Tracey at 435-682-4100 or see the Duck Creek website.
Third Annual Pioneer Jamboree and Kabob-a-que – LaVerkin, Springdale, Rockville, Virgin and Toquerville
Join the communities of LaVerkin, Springdale, Rockville, Virgin and Toquerville on July 24 at the Springdale Town Park, 126 Lion Blvd. in Springdale. There will be bounce houses, pioneer games, a dunk tank, photo booth and more.
- Dinner |6-8 p.m.
- Live Music | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Historical Display | 6-9 p.m.
Cedar City Pioneer Day events
Citizens of Cedar City will celebrate “Our Pioneer Heritage: Carry on the Legacy” on July 24. Events will begin at 8 a.m. with a program at the Old Rock Church, 75 E. Center St. in Cedar City. There will be a parade down Main Street, from 200 South to 400 North, beginning at 10 a.m. Following the parade, there will be activities in Main Street Park, 200 N. Main St., that will include food, fun, races, a fish pond, a dunking pond, and old-fashioned mingling.
If you would like to add a Pioneer Day weekend event to this list, email [email protected].
Ed. note: Changes in scheduled events may arise without notice to St. George News; links and contact information are provided for your convenience in confirming details.
Email: [email protected]
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
I think the parades should include bed races, one guy in the bed being pushed by his harem of child brides in polygamist garb. Seems fitting.
States back east should also celebrate pioneer day since they got rid of a lot of pedophiles back in the day.
The Washington City Community Center is also having a Party from 6-10pm with vendors, pool, water walkers, free photos, all leading up to the fireworks show.
Thank you, Marcia – we’ll add that in. Additions to the listing welcome – anyone may email [email protected] with items to be included.
ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
Joyce Kuzmanic
Editor in Chief
Crap! Doesn’t anyone get tired of all the mormon pioneer garbage constantly shoved in your face? Even their criminal stuff is treated like it was wonderful, such as the pedophiles, crooks and murderers
Then move away…no one is making you stay here.
Nobody is moving. Someone has to keep tabs on all the pedo freaks here.
These kind of comments just goes to prove that bigotry and racism exist regardless of party lines.
Really? You guys are a bunch of cowardly trolls. You won’t even use your real names to state your opinions. Most of you are spouting exaggerated half-truths anyway. I’m not saying that the situation out in Hilldale/Colorado City is not disturbing, but that was NOT the way it started.
I think the posts are funny. How many non-mormon pioneer celebrated days do you acknowledge? Why does everything here have to revolve around mormon pioneers? There are other people, non-mormons, who have their cultural holidays they retain. Just because they move to Utah (which is in the United States) does not mean they have to forget their traditions and cultural celebrations (leave them at the Utah border) and only recognize the mormon pioneer events. Really, are you that narrow-minded?
The difference is that Utah was founded by mormon pioneers who had been persecuted and mistreated by the United States government and citizens. They had to flee for their lives just because they believe differently than others. They left the US and colonized an ugly desert and made it livable and beautiful. Then all the non mormon people came to live here and were accepted and treated well. Now all of a sudden, mormons are being criticized for they way they think in the place that they settled. I just think that having one day to celebrate the founding of Utah is not a big deal. If you don’t like it, enjoy your day off work any way that you want. You don’t have to participate in any of the pioneer day activities. No one is making you celebrate it. I love how we are supposed to have tolerance (and acceptance) for everyone, but yet when it comes to someone religious, or conservative, all bets are off and they can be treated however you want.
I think you are confusing the word persecuted for the true action of prosecuted, which you do with criminals. BTW, mormons don’t own this state nor this land. They didn’t like the United States then and left, and if they don’t like the United States now, then leave. Go to your planet kolob and practice your polygamy and continue scamming each other blind.
How about a parade float that recreates the Meadow Mountain Massacre and then idolize John Lee? Wait, let’s pretend that part of the Pioneer History didn’t happen. This float wouldn’t be any different than the Dixie College floats that represented slave scenes and black minstrels. Could have those as well to show the pioneer descendent spirit.
Yes, it is the way it was started. Mr. Smith and Mr. Young would both be in jail alongside Mr. Jeffs if they were alive today.
Pioneer Days is celebrated in California at it State Fair going on now, and in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and in Utah. So who ARE the name calling bigots, SSFREEZE, MASSACRE, Judgemental People, Sickos AND Bed Races.
Here is the theme song for the Burning Bosom float. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opY4qcidFk
I’m not a Mormon, but I love holidays. I think anytime there’s an excuse to party and celebrate it’s good. People put in the effort to try and make community events to meet the people around you and to have something to do.
I saw a comment earlier about Utah being in the United States, but I think completely misses the point of the United States. Unlike what we have today, the Federal government is supposed to be very limited. It is to promote and ensure freedom. Then it is at a state level to which the people are free to move into that which coincides and regulates people closer to their beliefs. If the state doesn’t do enough, then they can find a community which has even more strict rules on living. The point is that nobody forces you to participate in any of the events and nobody is stopping you from having your own event.
All religions, countries, and so forth have their “sickos.” To condemn everyone on the actions of a few is just as moronic as someone else’s views may be to you.
You take the good, you take the bad,
you take them both and there you have
The facts of life, the facts of life.
Watch you talkin bout willis? Fact is I doubt YOUR religion.
B.s. b.s. b.s. go out or don’t go out, have fun living your live has you should. Mormon or not you all don’t know nothing about the real history that happen here of USA or Utah or any of states. White, black, yellow, green, Mormon, Catholic, Christians and so on. who cares your here deal with it.
Most states celebrate the day their state became a state. Utah does not. They celebrate the day the Mormons arrived. When do we celebrate the day the Catholics arrived? Or the Muslim? Or the evangelical born-again Christians?
Seems like this is more revered than the 4th of July. Or maybe just another reason to keep the firework stands open to finish off selling product that didn’t sell on the 4th.
Mormons don’t celebrate anything or talk about any world or US history unless they can put a mormon spin on everything.
In every celebration I have seen advertised for Pioneer day, their are no exclusions, all of the public is invited to participate. If you watch the Day’s of “47 Parade on NBC every year there are various religious denominations included in the parade. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a very welcoming Church. I am sad for people that are so miserable that they can’t stand to see someone else celebrate something.
I am a new member of the church did not even realize it was Pioneer Day today. Would have liked to have checked out the parade. Interesting comment and all seem to be toward the FLDS which is not a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As to my understanding this practice was condemned and revelation was given that if not stopped the church would be destroyed.
As for child brides and sexual abuse of children, I will not even go there because it angers me and I do not like the spirit around that issue. The wrath that awaits those individuals will be one well deserved. Regardless of me being New to the Faith from what I have read in previous posts on The Mountain Meadows Massacre it was pretty much paranoia from what they had already been through. http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.com/
These people were ordered to be murdered because of their beliefs. No one will agree on every situation or action, but every person is responsible for their own behavior. I will just not be one who chooses to spew hate to anyone. Mormon, Catholic, Muslim or Jew. Is it so hard to be kind?
Bahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
No fireworks in parawon. Wasted out 24th of July because of bad information.
All your rightousness is as filthy rags.
Oh about mountain meadow mascre. My family Willdens did a lot of the killing. We took all the kids 7 and under they easier to indoctrinate. B. Young believed that. My gg grandfather was also ordered to go piligamy. He tried with a second wife but she ran away. Joseph Smith he commanded Brigham Young to do the same.they said it would seal salvation. Mr. Young, said no but quickly got on board once he started. Joseph Smith being so rude took 11 extra wives that were already were married to other men. No wonder they shot him in navoo. Brigham Young had 55 wives. The government stopped the practice. I think all of them are a dangerous secret society. Moms get your kids out of this cult. I thank God everyday that grandma Lucy ran her a..* off from the mormon cult later day saint crap. Amen thank you Jesus my God. Amen
*Ed. ellipses