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Shelley Osterloh ReportingSince 1849, Salt Lake City has celebrated the arrival of the pioneers. Today the parade and tradition continue.
Liberty Park is the end of the parade route, and what a parade it was. The KSL Days of '47 parade celebrates the arrival of the pioneers to the Salt lake Valley in 1847, so the handcarts and covered wagons are always part of the parade. There were 120 entries in a two hour processional.
Since its earliest days, this parade has honored soldiers, and the Mormon Battalion is always represented. But it's the soldiers of today who got the standing ovation: Utah National Guard, Army Reserve and Marines, some who have returned from Iraq.
There were dozens of floats created by LDS Church groups, communities and businesses looking to the past and future of Utah. This year's Sweepstakes winner (#85) portrayed the cricket invasion that nearly killed the pioneers crops. #29 took the award for outstanding animation. The Presidents award went to an entry from Walmart (#32), and Provo City won the Ensign award. (#73).
And whether its the horses you like, the bands or the antique cars, it seems there was plenty of eye candy if you can stand the heat.
Donna Pelton, Oklahoma: "It's awesome this year, we got shade; last year we had not shade. Awesome we love it."
Kyle Cluff: "Of course it's worth it, it's an awesome parade."
In many ways, it is a parade of symbols: handcarts, beehives, crickets -- messages of faith and sacrifice, trial and deliverance. It's Utah history preserved and paraded, teaching generation after generation about the enduring values of the past.
Another piece of Utah history is well represented at Liberty Park today, the Native American tradition of the Pow Wow. There will also be a free fireworks show at Liberty at dusk.
Ogden is also celebrating Pioneer Day. Marching bands played patriotic tunes as they headed down the street.
Our KSL crew cruised through the parade on convertibles along with prancing palamino and paint ponies. And there were lots of flags on the parade route, including one that it covered the whole street!
And another parade today, but instead of the normal floats, these parade goers actually floated downstream.
Organizers said it was to celebrate the history of the Jordan River and the role it played in the economic development of the Salt Lake Valley.
Parade participants decorated canoes in various themes and floated down the river for a couple hours. Anyone was welcome to float or watch.
