Pioneer Day is one of Utah's most beloved holidays, honoring the arrival of the Latter-day Saint pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Every year the state comes alive with parades, rodeos, fireworks, and community celebrations that reflect the grit and heritage of the people who settled here.

In 2026, Pioneer Day falls on Friday, July 24, giving you a full holiday weekend to celebrate across Utah Valley. Whether you want to line up for a hometown parade, cheer at the rodeo, or explore a historic pioneer site, here are some of the best events and things to do to make your Pioneer Day 2026 unforgettable.

Pioneer Day Events

Utah Valley celebrates Pioneer Day in a big way. The centerpiece is Spanish Fork Fiesta Days, home to the largest 24th of July parade in Utah County. The Grand Parade heads down Main and Center Street at 9 a.m. on July 24, the Fiesta Days Rodeo runs July 20 through 24 with a 7 p.m. preshow and the rodeo at 7:30 p.m., and a fireworks spectacular caps the night around 10 p.m. Nearby, Mapleton hosts a Pioneer Day parade, 5K, park games, and fireworks, while Provo's North Park holds a Pioneer Day Extravaganza with pie contests, gold panning, and games for the kids. Check the events below for dates, times, and details.

Things to do on Pioneer Day 2026

Beyond the parades and rodeos, Pioneer Day is a great time to step into Utah Valley's frontier history. Wander the cabins and working blacksmith shop at Provo Pioneer Village, tour Camp Floyd and the Stagecoach Inn in Fairfield, or explore pioneer art and artifacts at one of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers museums. If you would rather get outside the way the pioneers did, spend the day on a local trail like Mount Timpanogos, Stewart Falls, or the Utah Lake shoreline. Here are some of the top things to do on Pioneer Day 2026.

Provo Pioneer Village

The Provo Pioneer Village represents early Provo, a frontier community existing in large part in isolation. The pioneers’ very survival depended on their own skills and the support of their neighbors and friends. What they ate, they grew; what they wore, they made; and what they needed, they…

Provo Pioneer Village

BYU Library Family History Center

The BYU Library Family History Center, located on Level 2 of the Harold B. Lee Library, is a resource for the BYU campus and the broader community to discover family history. The collection here combines the resources of a FamilySearch affiliate library with those of a top university library…

BYU Library Family History Center

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum

The United States Army, Mormon Pioneers, Stagecoach Travelers, and the Pony Express met at Camp Floyd and the town of Fairfield. The Army arrived in 1858 and constructed Camp Floyd to suppress a supposed Mormon rebellion. The Army remained here for three years before being recalled for the Civil…

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum