Pioneer Day is Friday, and there’s a week’s worth of events leading up to it.
Why it matters: The state holiday celebrates the 1847 arrival of the first Latter-day Saint settlers in the Salt Lake Valley. Think of it as our version of the Fourth of July.
- Many Utahns will also celebrate the unofficial Pie and Beer Day, a cheeky alternative.
Here’s what’s happening:
🐂 Cattle Drive: To kick off the festivities, watch longhorn cattle and cowboys on horseback stroll around the city.
- 📅 Monday | 🕝 9am | 📍Beginning at Utah State Fairpark
🤠 Days of ’47 Rodeo: The weeklong rodeo will feature mechanical bull-riding, live performances, a petting zoo, pony rides and more.
- 📅 Tuesday-Saturday | 🕝 5pm | 📍Utah State Fairpark
🎈 Float Preview Party: Get a sneak peek at this year’s parade floats.
- 📅 Tuesday-Wednesday | 🕝 11am-9pm | 📍Mountain America Expo Center
🛼 Millcreek Pioneer Day: Millcreek Common is throwing a celebration featuring root beer floats, line dancing, roller skating and climbing.
- 📅 Friday | 🕝 6-9pm | 📍1354 E. Chambers Ave., Millcreek
🏃 Deseret News Marathon: You can still register for the marathon, half marathon, other shorter races happening Friday — or sign up to volunteer.
- Last year’s first-place winner, Max Jones, ran the full marathon in just under two and half hours.
- 📅 Friday | 📍Various locations
🥁 Days of ’47 Parade: The main event draws about 250,000 people per year.
- 📅 Friday | 🕝 9am | 📍Beginning at South Temple and State Street
🍻 Pie and Beer Day celebrations
🥧 One of Utah’s largest Pie and Beer Day celebrations is back, serving around 7,000 slices of pie.
- 📅 Friday | 🕝 4-8pm | 📍Smith’s Ballpark
🍕 Chappell Brewing in South Salt Lake will serve cold ones, pies and slices from Secret Pizza Club at this all-ages event…