The Days of '47 is Salt Lake City's Pioneer Day celebration, and two of its events draw families from all over the state: the Days of '47 Parade on the morning of July 24, which draws thousands of spectators, and the Days of '47 Rodeo, five nights of professional rodeo at the Utah State Fairpark. Utah Valley has its own Pioneer Day traditions, but the Salt Lake version is a different scale, and with a little planning it makes a full day trip.
Why July 24
On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young and the vanguard company of pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, the first of the thousands who would cross the plains by wagon and handcart. The date became Pioneer Day, a Utah state holiday. Salt Lake City held a parade on July 24 as early as 1849, long before the Days of '47 organization existed to run it. This Is the Place Monument, pictured at the top of this page, stands at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, where the pioneers came into the valley.
For how Pioneer Day is marked in Utah County itself, see Pioneer Day, Explained and the county's Pioneer Day roundup.
The parade
The Days of '47 Parade starts at 9 a.m. on July 24 and takes about three hours. The route begins at South Temple and State Street, runs east to 200 East, turns south to 900 South, and then turns east to 600 East, finishing at Liberty Park. Expect floats, bands, horses, horse-drawn carriages, handcarts, clowns and plenty of pioneer dress; in recent years other churches have joined in celebrating their own Utah pioneers, and Native Americans march in the pre-parade ahead of the pioneer floats.
The organizers allow camping along the route on the evening before, and many families stake out their spots overnight. Road closures shut the through streets to the route for the duration.
The rodeo
The Utah Days of '47 Rodeo runs five nights at the Days of '47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, 155 North 1000 West. In 2026 it ran July 21 to 25. It calls itself the world's only Gold Medal rodeo, with a gold medal round on the final night.
A rodeo night starts early. In 2026 the Fairpark gates opened at 5 p.m. for a free fun zone with a mechanical bull, a petting zoo, pony rides, food trucks and vendors, no rodeo ticket required; live music ran from 6 to 7:30, the arena gates opened at 7 and the rodeo began at 8. Tickets are sold online, and the organizers warn that the last two nights sell out quickly; the 2026 finale did. It runs five nights in the week of Pioneer Day; check the rodeo's site for the 2027 dates before you plan.
Rodeo week kicks off with a longhorn cattle drive through the streets near the Fairpark, which in 2026 left the Fairpark at 9 a.m.
A Pioneer Day plan from Utah Valley
Morning: the parade. Leave early. Without traffic, downtown is about 53 minutes from Provo by car, but on the morning of July 24 the streets near the route close and the good spots are claimed overnight. Pick a spot away from the start, along 200 East or 900 South, and bring chairs, water and shade.
Afternoon: rest, or the monument. The parade ends around noon. The afternoon is the hottest part of a Utah July day, and a quiet stretch before the evening. This Is the Place Monument at the mouth of Emigration Canyon ties the day to its history.
Evening: the rodeo or the sky. For a rodeo family, the Days of '47 Rodeo runs that night, with the free fun zone from 5 p.m.; buy tickets well ahead. Salt Lake City has also closed recent Pioneer Days with a drone show in place of fireworks, and its 2026 celebration included a 300-drone show.
Getting there from Utah County
By car. OpenStreetMap routing puts downtown Salt Lake City about 45 miles and 53 minutes from downtown Provo, and the Utah State Fairpark about 47 miles and 55 minutes, both without traffic. Parade morning and rodeo nights are anything but traffic-free.
By train. The parade starts near downtown TRAX stations, and the rodeo is beside the Green Line's Fairpark station, two stops west of the North Temple station where FrontRunner connects. Pioneer Day is a state holiday, so check UTA's schedule for July 24 before planning around the train. For how the train works from Utah Valley, see FrontRunner From Provo.
Practical notes
- Hold a spot early. Families camp along the route the night before.
- Buy rodeo tickets ahead. The final nights sell out.
- Plan for the heat. A July parade and an afternoon outdoors call for water and shade.
- Check the holiday transit schedule. July 24 is a state holiday.
Related Guides
- Pioneer Day, Explained
- Pioneer Day in Utah Valley
- Bountiful Handcart Days
- West Jordan's Western Stampede
- The Utah State Fair
- The Salt Lake City Greek Festival
- The Living Traditions Festival
Frequently Asked Questions
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