Utahns love a parade to celebrate the 24th

Parade enthusiasts will start descending on Salt Lake City tonight to stake out that perfect street corner or patch of pavement to watch Monday's annual Days of '47 Parade.

The parade begins at 9 a.m. at South Temple and Main Street. It will travel east to 200 East, south to 900 South, then east to Liberty Park.

Because the 24th falls on a Sunday this year, many public celebrations are taking place Monday, and a number were held Saturday.

The Days of '47 Youth Parade — the largest youth parade in the nation, with nearly 5,000 children participating — marched down 500 South on Saturday morning, ending at a youth festival at Washington Square, where the kids celebrated with a host of activities, music and fun.

The kids' entries in the parade celebrated the pioneering spirit, often by translating it into more modern endeavors: pioneers of science, art, education and technology. Many others rode floats depicting the trials and triumphs of their own pioneer ancestors, be they Mormon pioneers or others who ventured to the Salt Lake Valley as farmers, miners or railroad workers.

In Utah County, the Pioneer Day Extravaganza at North Park in Provo was visited by mountain men and cowboys, and celebrants enjoyed pioneer games and a car show. And at Mapleton Days Saturday, residents enjoyed the Mapleton Grand Parade, beginning at the Heritage Church and proceeding south to Mapleton Elementary School.

The day ended with the Days of '47 Celebration of Utah's Cultures at the Gallivan Center, an event filled with music, dancing, art and ethnic foods. And, of course, it was all capped off with a spectacular fireworks show at dark.

Still, many residents celebrating the holiday undoubtedly have an eye focused toward Monday's centerpiece Days of '47 Parade. In fact, camping out on Main Street the night before has become as much of a tradition for some as the parade itself.

But the Salt Lake City Police Department wants everyone to remember there are a few rules that need to be followed to make everyone's parade experience more enjoyable.

For starters, parade watchers cannot start staking out their areas until 8 p.m.

Once the clock strikes 8, a person may spend the night at their area and bring a blanket, sleeping bag or chair with them. It is illegal under city ordinances, however, for a person to drop off an armload of blankets to reserve space for an entire family who isn't planning on showing up until the next day.

"No person may reserve a space for anyone other than themselves," according to city law.

Trying to reserve an area by roping it off is illegal. Tents, barricades and other barriers are also not allowed. Vehicles and trailers are prohibited from being parked on the parade route.