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There were all sorts of activities going on in Utah to celebrate Pioneer Day. The biggest single even was the Days of '47 parade. The theme this year: "Still Pioneering Together."
The Days of '47 parade is one of the largest in the nation, behind only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and the Rose Bowl parade.
This year, 43 floats, 16 marching bands and numerous dignitaries cruised from State Street, down 200 East to 900 South, and then on into Liberty Park.
For hundreds of people, the excitement of the parade begins the night before.
"This is the big event. You look forward to this all year," one woman said.
A child told us, "This is a tradition to stay up, I guess."
Salt Lake police were out making sure everyone was safe, and there really wasn't that much sleeping going on.
"I don't plan on sleeping until Sunday!," one man said.
While some folks laughed the night away, parade organizers began the long trek of getting the floats from the South Towne Expo Center to downtown Salt Lake. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic at 2:00 in the morning.
Then at 5:30 in the morning, marathon runners took off from above Emigration Canyon for the Deseret News Marathon. Joseph Chirlee won the race in two hours and 18 minutes. Rebecca Walter won the women's portion in three hours and one minute.
At 6 a.m., another run, the 10K, started. Both runs ended at Liberty Park, where the parade finished up too.
Ogden residents also took part in the holiday spirit. People lined 31st Street for the city's Pioneer Days parade, complete with antique cars, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages. A fireworks show was to conclude the Ogden Rodeo.
Fireworks also were on tap at Liberty Park Thursday night.
Then Friday and Saturday, Pioneer Heritage Days are going on at This Is The Place Heritage Park. Also, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will put on a Pioneer Day concert this weekend.
For more information about what's going on and when, click the related links.
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
