Pioneer Day

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Pioneer Day is a state holiday in Utah, USA, which commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on 24th July 1847. The celebrations also extend to Mormon communities in the states surrounding Utah.

Within Utah, the day has more significance and is much more widely celebrated than Independence Day - the 4th of July.

The Mormons, also known as the Latter-day Saints, travelled to and settled in Utah having being forced out of the Eastern states, especially Nauvoo in Illinois, where they suffered relogious persecution.

Outside of Utah and its immediate environs, Pioneer Day is also considered a day of special celebration by most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Celebrations tend to be boisterous, with rodeos, fireworks, parades, picnics and other festivities involving the whole community. There is also much singing of Mormon Folk Music.

Some Latter-day Saints do partial re-enactments of the original trek by walking parts of the Mormon Trail or re-entering Salt Lake City by handcart. In 1997, the 150th Anniversary of the original trek, a party of Mormons re-enacted the full Nauvoo to Salt Lake City journey, travelling with handcarts, covered wagons and wearing traditional dress.