Days of '47 Parade — Thousands flock to celebration

Published: Friday, July 25, 2008 12:14 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
When clowns, pooper-scoopers and drum majors take over the streets of downtown Salt Lake City, it must be time for the Days of '47 Parade on Pioneer Day.

Spectators like Tonia Howard, Matt Lloyd and Chris Ripplinger camped out along the route overnight.

Howard arrived with her family at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to secure a good parade-watching spot. However, she noted, the other side of the street was already packed by the time they arrived.

Lloyd and Ripplinger didn't stake out their spot till 1 a.m. Thursday, but they still found room to set up two LoveSacs and a couch.

"We're doing this every year from now on," Ripplinger said. "It's just a novelty."

Scott Johnson and about 20 friends arrived at about 10 p.m. Wednesday. They brought mattresses, tarps and a shelter to block the sun during the day. Johnson said he stayed up all night playing cards and having a good time.

"We only slept about an hour," he said.

This year's parade featured 110 floats from communities and businesses across the valley.

School rivalries became apparent as the Brigham Young University float was met with cheers and chants or boos and rants, depending on the loyalties. The University of Utah float was met with more resounding enthusiasm in its hometown.

Story continues below

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson and his wife, Frances, waved to the crowds from the back of a sporty convertible.

Two of the last living sons of Utah pioneers, Frank Swallow and Ken Blair, rode on the back of a covered wagon sponsored by the Sons of Utah Pioneers.

The float by the Farmington Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took top honors in the parade. The float featured two giant Styrofoam seagulls barbecuing crickets and was both the top vote-getting float and the judge's choice.

Early Thursday, while much of the community was sleeping in, hundreds of early birds welcomed Pioneer Day in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for the annual Days of '47 Sunrise Service.

The 7 a.m. event included a pioneer-themed message, plenty of music and a posting of the colors by the Mormon Battalion.

Elder Earl C. Tingey, a member of the LDS Church's Presidency of the Seventy, offered the annual Sunrise Service address. He said the characteristics that defined the Mormon Pioneers in 1847 can help people today "pioneer into the future."

Listing those traits, Elder Tingey said the pioneers believed in their duty to gather and establish Zion. They were obedient to their prophets. They were willing to sacrifice for their beliefs, despite physical hardships and the death of loved ones. They worked hard to rear "a righteous posterity," and they had faith and vision.

Recent comments

Hatuletoh needs to get a life or maybe even a hobby.
Pooper scooper...

Silas | July 26, 2008 at 10:37 a.m.

Happy Pioneer Day. My parents are converts and are pioneers for...

Ed Clinch | July 25, 2008 at 8:16 p.m.

"Pooper scooper" sounds okay to me. What discription would you have...

SLMG | July 25, 2008 at 7:19 p.m.

Image
August Miller, Deseret News

Four F-16 jets do a fly-over at the start of the Days of '47 Parade on Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Video
Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

I feel sorry for the poor Chinese people. They have suffered so much from...

I guess the saints are like everyone else after all. Hmmmmmmmm. Now that is...

Man admits slaying in cold case

I think both Rigby and Cook need to be dealt with. This case shows if you get...

i spent over a year in iraq with the military, and you know what? even in a...

how many people are playing the "devil's advocate". Even more disgusting is...

It frightens me that so many young people are remembering this man as a...

If it was truly just a peck on the cheek, I'd say no big deal. If they were...

Millsap should not worth 9M and witht he front loaded bonus, I think Jazz may...

So if things are so rosy at Sleepy, why did they just let go the head pro?

The poor are heading south to the Mexican border, perhaps then the State of...

Advertisements