2010 Fact Sheet

2/3/2009

The Days of ’47 activities commemorate the arrival of Mormon pioneer leader Brigham Young and the 60,000 – 80,000 other pioneers who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley between 1847 and 1869.

* The first recorded Pioneer Day Celebration took place on 24 July 1849
* The Days of ’47, Inc. was officially organized in 1943, as a private, non-profit organization
* Prior to the establishment of The Days of ’47, Inc., the celebration was known as “Covered Wagon Days,” mainly staged by the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
* The inaugural Days of ’47 Celebration in 1943 included:
o Governor Herbert B. Maw crowning the Royalty on the Capitol steps
o A Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert
o A Coronation Ball
o Four days of street shows
o A Sunrise Service
o A rodeo at what is now called the Utah Fair Park

In 2010, there will be 11 official Days of ‘47 events and five more we encourage you to attend including:

o A royalty pageant (all contestants must have pioneer ancestry)
o Three parades (the main parade, a youth parade, an all-horse parade
o Marathon/10K/5K races
o A Sunrise Service in the Tabernacle on Temple Square
o A Pops Concert at Abravanel Hall
o A Pioneers of Progress Awards Banquet (honoring modern-day pioneers in six categories)
o A re-enactment hike allowing participants to retrace the path the first pioneers took when they entered the Salt Lake Valley
o A number of family- and children-oriented festivities, including free carnival rides, games, entertainment, crafts, etc.
o A six-night Rodeo with Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association performances
o A Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square
* The Days of ’47 Parade is one of the largest parades in the nation (closely rivaling the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California)
* The Days of ’47 Youth Parade is one of the largest of its kind in the nation (several thousand children participate)
* The floats from the July 24th parade can be seen at the South Towne Expo Center on July 19th and 20th
* Almost all events are free and open to the public
* For more information, see www.daysof47.com