It may be one of the first surprises outsiders get when they move to Utah: that Independence Day isn’t our only July holiday.
The second is Pioneer Day, July 24, commemorating the day in 1847 when Brigham Young and the first Mormon pioneers crossed Emigration Canyon and entered the Salt Lake Valley.
More modern “Days of ‘47″ celebrations started in 1947, the centennial of that first arrival, but it’s been a tradition every year since (except for 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
The best-known events include a parade through downtown Salt Lake City, a marathon from Emigration Canyon to the city, and a rodeo at the Utah State Fairpark.
Some in Utah instead celebrate “Pie ‘N’ Beer Day,” where baked goods and brews are the order of the day.
Here’s a roundup of what’s happening around the state on and around July 24:
Salt Lake County
Saturday, July 18
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.
Family Heritage Day • A day of activities, organized by 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 keynote talk by filmmaker T.C. Christensen (“17 Miracles,” “Ephraim’s Rescue”); and music by composer Clive Romney. Free admission to the park; a $15 “daily experience pass” also gets you access to hands-on activities.
Sunday, July 19
The Cookout • The fifth annual event with “food, vibes, music and games.” Fairmont Park, 1040 E. Sugarmont Drive, Salt Lake City, 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.
Tuesday-Wednesday, July 21-22
Float Preview Party • Get a close-up look at the floats to be featured in the Days of ‘47 Parade. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21-22, 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 21-25
(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 for the top riders. Utah State Fairpark, 1000 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $24.74 to $43.37, at utahdaysof47rodeo.com. (Officially sponsored by Days of ‘47.)
Friday, July 24
Deseret News Marathon • Four races in Salt Lake City — 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 Choral Arts Society of Utah, conducted by Sterling Poulson; a flag ceremony by the Mormon Battalion; a musical number by Days of ‘47 royalty; and a talk by Latter-day Saints general authority emeritus Weatherford T. Clayton. Starts at 7 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 95 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Admission is free; everyone must be seated by 6:50 a.m.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Liahona Band marches in the Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Days of ‘47 Parade • The big event, with floats, marching bands, horses, clowns, dignitaries and more — this year with the theme “Like~Learn~Love Pioneers!” 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,)
Uniting Communities POWWOW • The 32th 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 grand entry (a roll call for dancers and drum groups) is at noon and at 5 p.m.; activities continue through 9 p.m. A drone light show is scheduled for 10 p.m. Liberty Park, 600 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City. Admission to the powwow is free.
Pie and Beer Day (Salt Lake City) • Friday, July 24: Dubbed the “official” celebration of pie and beer, the event features pies from various Utah bakeries, a celebrity kickball tournament featuring retired Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, live music, food trucks and an amateur pie-baking contest (note to readers: One of the judges in the amateur contest is The Tribune’s food and drink reporter, Kolbie Peterson). Event runs from 4 to 8 p.m., at Smith’s Ballpark, 77 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10 general admission in advance, $15 on the day of the event, $50 for a VIPP (Very Important Pie Pass); available at officialpieandbeerday.com.
Wasatch Front
Davis County
Pioneer Day celebrations (Layton) • Friday, July 24, starting with activities at the Layton Heritage Museum, 403 N. Wasatch Blvd., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. That’s followed by a food truck rally, 5:45 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., at Layton Commons Park, 437 N. Wasatch Blvd.; a free concert by Riders in the Sky at 7 p.m. at Kenley Amphitheatre, 403 N. Wasatch Blvd.; and finishing with the Electric Light Parade 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) Devon Hotler 6, cheers for one of the entries in the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade, Friday, July 19, 2019.
Handcart Days (Bountiful) • Friday, July 24: Park activities at Bountiful City Park, 400 N. 200 West, 5 to 9 p.m.; concert by Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25: Parade on Main Street, starts at 9 a.m.; more park activities, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; fireworks at 10 p.m., Mueller Park Junior High, 955 E. 1800 South. Free.
Utah County
Fiesta Days (Spanish Fork) • Monday through Friday, July 20-24: Fiesta Days Rodeo, Fairgrounds, 476 S. Main; tickets at spanishfork.gov/events/fiestadays/rodeo. Wednesday-Saturday, July 22-25: Carnival, craft fair, food in the park and other events, City Park, 49 S. Main. Friday, 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.; followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 25: Activities in the daytime, and a street dance at 8:30 p.m. Go to spanishfork.gov for details.
Pioneer Day Celebration (Orem) • Friday, July 24: Food trucks and activities from 5 to 9:50 p.m., with 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. University Place, 575 E. University Parkway, Orem. Free admission; no reserving spots in the Orchard before 4 p.m.; no dogs or other animals (except service dogs); no alcohol, smoking or vaping.
Pioneer Day Celebration (Fairfield) • Saturday, July 25: 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 family only).
Pioneer Days (Mapleton) • Friday, July 17: “Mapleton’s Got Talent,” 6:30 p.m., and family street dance at 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., Mapleton City Park, West Maple and Main Street. Saturday, July 18: A day of activities, including a parade on Main Street at 9 a.m., activities at City Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a concert featuring Rhinestone Rodeo at Ira Allen Sports Park, 1728 S. 800 West, at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks. Free to attend.
Weber County
Ogden Pioneer Days • Saturday-Friday, July 18-24: Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, at Ogden Pioneer Stadium, 668 17th St., with drone shows Monday-Friday; Thursday, July 23, concludes with a concert by country singer Charley Jenkins. Tickets at ogdenpioneerdays.com. Friday, 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 23: Rodeo at Fort Cameron Complex, … starting at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24: Parade starts at 9 a.m., followed by activities at City Park; horse races start at 1 p.m. at Canyon Breeze Race Track; rodeo at 7 p.m.; fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Go to beavercityut.com for details.
Garfield County
Pioneer Day Celebration (Panguitch) • Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18: 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. Friday, July 24: Pioneer Day Celebration, schedule to be announced.
Grand County
Heather Hansman reading (Moab) • Wednesday, July 22: Reading by Heather Hansman, author of “Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love for the Wild”; 7 p.m., Moab Library, 257 E. Center St. Free to attend.
Iron County
The Pioneer Legacy (Cedar City) • Thursday, July 23: “The Pioneer Legacy” is a musical and fireworks spectacular, with music by Merrill Osmond and his son, Justin, with a cast of 150 performers. Gates open at 7 p.m., preshow entertainment at 8:45 p.m., performance starts at 9:30 p.m. Eccles Coliseum Stadium, Southern Utah University, 99 S. 1100 West, Cedar City. Free to attend.
Kane County
Fireworks on the Water (Kanab) • Friday, July 24: Fireworks show on the water, after dark (around 10 p.m.), Jackson Flat Reservoir, south of Kanab.
Summit County
Deer Valley Music Festival (Park City) • Three Utah Symphony concerts, all starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South. Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, features a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; Saturday, July 25, will feature Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” and the string trio Time for Three. Tickets at deervalleymusicfestival.org.
Charleston Pioneer Day Celebration (Heber City) • Friday, July 24: A day of events from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., including live music, food trucks, kids games, the “Splash & Grab” trout pond, a parade at 6 p.m., a concert at 7 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m. Charleston Town Park, 3527 W. 3600 South, Heber City. Free to attend (except for the trout pond, which requires a ticket).
Washington County
Pioneer Day Celebrations (Washington City) • Friday, July 24: Parade down Telegraph Street, 8 a.m.; children’s booths and events in Veterans Park. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Free.
Wayne County
(photo courtesy the Bicknell Theater) The exterior of the renovated Bicknell Theater, in Bicknell, Utah. The theater will play host to the 2026 Bicknell International Film Festival, July 24-25, 2026.
Bicknell International Film Festival • Friday-Saturday, July 24-25: Celebrating the “best” of B-movies, this year with the theme “Submerged: Tales of Terror Below,” featuring movies about dangers underwater. 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 “Hello Down There” (1969), a comedy about a family that moves to a home under the sea, at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the events include a screening at 7 p.m. of “Lake Placid” (1999), about a killer crocodile in a Maine lake, also at the Bicknell Theatre. Tickets and information available at EntradaInstitute.org.