2011 Fact Sheet

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 Fairpark

In 2011, there will be 10 official Days of ’47 events and six more we encourage you to attend including:

o A royalty pageant (all contestants must have pioneer ancestry)
o Two parades (the main parade and a youth parade) (Be sure to see our 2012 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 seven 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 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 oldest parades in the nation

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 25th parade can be seen at the South Towne Expo Center on July 20th and 21st

Almost all events are free and open to the public.

For more information, see www.daysof47.com

**These events are not sponsored by The Days of ’47, Inc.