How to Celebrate Pioneer Day

In Utah, Pioneer Day on July 24 outshines the Fourth of July and makes Christmas seem like a blip on the calendar. It marks the day in 1847 when Brigham Young led his Mormon followers into what is now Salt Lake City and declared, "This is the spot." But you don't have to be a Mormon, a Utahan, or even a Westerner to celebrate the spirit that carried these men, women and children across the continent.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Party Drinks
• Party Food
• Cowboy CDs
• Airline Tickets To Salt Lake City

1. Visit Utah. Pioneer Day has become the focal point of a weeklong festival known variously as Days of '47 and Covered Wagon Days. Salt Lake City stages the biggest celebrations, but throughout the state descendants of the Pioneers - along with more recent arrivals - salute the occasion with parades, rodeos, barbecues, pageants, art fairs and other festive goings-on.

2. Read the Book of Mormon, or at least dip into it. It will give you some insight into the character of the people who left everything they knew to venture across prairies, mountains and deserts seeking their promised land.

3. Take a long walk and think what it must have been like to travel on foot from Illinois to Utah. The idea of pioneers traveling in covered wagons originated in Hollywood film studios. In reality, those people walked every step of the way; their belongings rode in the wagons.

4. Tell your children about the pioneers you most admire. Think not only of those who settled the West, but trailblazers of every stripe from Galileo to Alan Shepherd.

5. Throw a western hoedown. Play cowboy music, serve up campfire cuisine and kick up your heels.

Tips & Warnings

• For information on events for Pioneer Day 2000, contact the Utah State Tourism office.

[jbrandersen]

on 6/23/2009 http://bit.ly/gGRHv there is also the bountiful hand cart days

[natbrat5]

on 7/10/2008 Hi, i just had to pipe in on this. While its awesome this is on a how to website, as a utahan, and a daughter of the utah pioneers, i need to correct some of this. First off, Brigham Young said "this is the place" not this is the spot.. hence the "this is the place state monument" in Salt Lake City. Second, they did use covered wagons as well as hand carts. It is true that they all had to walk, but they carried ALL THEY HAD across the plains. Which meant you have to use something.. and it was covered wagons pulled by oxen or horses and hand carts. And While the 24th is HUGE here, it does not make Christmas a "blip" on the calendar, nor does it outshine the 4th. July is just a big fun month here! So if you have any questions.. come visit during July.

[marylinusca]

on 4/27/2007 I've volunteered at historic events, and I agree that it's more fun and informative if you prepare in advance. Read a book about the event / historic site. Talk about it with your children. If you are into cooking, and several historic re-enactments involve food, make a dish the modern way first, and then compare it with the way it's made at the site.
Don't be afraid to ask questions : eg. "How did ladies sit while wearing hoopskirts?" but be specific. A general question gets a general answer, or, if you are at an inventor's / science museum: "How did that telephone work?"