Pioneer Celebration in Salt Lake City

The 24th of July is a MAJOR holiday in Utah…it commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois, and other locations in the eastern United States. Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event.

2016 Pioneer Day Concert with the King’s Singers-Music for a Summer Evening

We had great seats thanks to my son-in-law Adam, who went and stood in line as soon as the tickets became available…Thanks Adam!

And then we dashed to Jennifer’s home and sat on her front lawn-front row seats- and watched the fireworks!

THE PARADE SALT LAKE CITY JULY 24th CELEBRATION 2016

To get an unblocked view of the parade we headed to the parade route at 4:00 a.m.!  AND we barely found an a spot that had not already been taken!!!  More and more people are camping out overnight to watch the parade.  We found the last existing spot right in front of the bike racks on the west side of the Public Library…since we knew we would be moving into the street up to the “parade line-painted on the street”  we grabbed the spot and prepared to celebrate!

 

FLOATS, ANTIQUE CARS, HORSES AND MARCHING BANDS: