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SALT LAKE CITY — From rodeos to races, the Days of '47 offers a variety of events to celebrate Pioneer Day.
Days of '47 Okland Construction Float Preview Party: The party runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the South Towne Exposition Center, 9575 S. State, Sandy. The event offers participants a chance to get a closer look at the floats from the youth parade and Days of '47 Parade.
Ribs and rodeo: The Days of '47 Komatsu Equipment Rodeo runs Tuesday-Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena, promising a $200,000 purse for rodeo contestants and more grub for participants.
The rodeo begins at 7 p.m. each night and features eight events, including bull riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling.
Barbecue ribs will be sold, and there will also be mutton busting, mechanic bull rides and pony rides outside the arena.
In addition, 25 teams from all over the nation are set to compete in the first ever Jack Daniel's Championship BBQ Cook-off on Saturday. The winner will get $15,000 and a chance to compete in the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue.
Deseret News Classic: The 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon take place Friday. The marathon begins at 5:30 a.m. at the top of Big Mountain; the half-marathon begins at 6 a.m. at the top of Little Mountain. The 10K begins at 6 a.m. at Research Park, 500 S. Wakara Way; and the 5K begins at 7 a.m. at Wasatch Elementary School, 1150 E. South Temple.
Days of '47 KSL 5 Parade: An estimated 200,000 people will gather at the parade route at 9 a.m. Friday to watch roughly 60 floats travel along South Temple at State Street, turn south at 900 South then east at Liberty Park at 600 East.
The Americanas, who ride standing up with a horse under each foot, are expected to trot around the parade, and Make-A-Wish children will cruise down the route in Humvees.
"It's kind of a rallying point for our whole community to come together and celebrate not only the pioneers, but to celebrate people today," said Lane Summerhays, president of the Days of '47. "To celebrate diversity, to celebrate all that we enjoy together in a great place."
Sunrise Service: The event begins at 7 a.m. Friday with music by the Salt Lake City Institute combined choirs, and talks by Elder Dale G. Renlund, a member of the LDS Church's First Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife, Ruth Lybbert Renlund.
A flag ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance by the Mormon Battalion and the introduction of the Days of '47 royalty by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers will also be included in the one-hour service.
Days of '47 Dixie Celebration: The heat is beat when it comes to the Days of '47 Dixie-Stephen Wade Auto Group Celebration.
"Don't let the heat scare you. Just bring your sunscreen and enjoy the day," said Rick Neilson, the president director of the Days of '47 Dixie Inc.
From Thursday to Saturday, Washington city will host pioneer-era games, square dancing, a parade, barbecue cook-off with a $10,000 prize, and national archery competitions.
Pioneers of Progress
The Day's of '47 also honored modern-day pioneers July 15 at the Pioneers of Progress Awards.
• Carl T. Wittwer won the science and technology award. Wittwer is the primary inventor of LifeCycler Real Time PCR System, a medical device used to detect diseases, mutations and cancers.
• Steven Stokes won the business and enterprise award. The CEO of Stokes Brothers Inc. built his business by renting calculators and TVs to fellow college students but now helps lead several organizations in Cache Valley.
• Alton C. Thacker won the education, health and humanitarian assistance award. Thacker founded Tiny Tim's Toy Foundation for Kids in 1996 to provide toys for children in need. The foundation now works all over the world, delivering 36,000 toys annually.
• Jeff Judkins won the sportsmanship and athletics award. Judkins played basketball for the University of Utah and was drafted into the NBA in 1978. He later coached men's basketball at the U. and women's basketball at BYU.
• Monte Bona won the historic and creative arts award. Bona is the director of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage area and received the Utah Heritage Foundation award for his work preserving historic buildings and creating the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.
• Arlette Hart Day received a posthumous legacy award. Known as the "Grand Dame of Murray," Day was the first woman to serve as president of the Murray Chamber of Commerce and opened the landmark Day Murray Music store with her husband.
Katie Larsen is a Deseret News intern and print journalism senior at Utah State University who graduates in December. Email: klarsen@deseretnews.com
