St. George, Utah · September 14-20, 2026

Dixie Days 2026

St. George's signature week-long heritage celebration — rodeo, parade, carnival, drone show, and festival honoring Southern Utah's pioneer history

Quick Facts

Dates
September 14-20, 2026
Location
St. George, Utah (multiple venues)
Admission
Free · rodeo & carnival ticketed
Highlight
Dixie Round-Up Rodeo + Parade

Dixie Days 2026 is St. George, Utah's signature heritage celebration — a week-long lineup of events running September 14-20, 2026, presented by the City of St. George. From a golf tournament and guided heritage walks to the historic Dixie Round-Up Rodeo, a downtown drone show, and the Dixie Days Festival at Vernon Worthen Park, the week brings together longtime residents and visitors to celebrate the community's pioneer roots.

The Dixie Days Tradition

The festival's name honors Southern Utah's historic identity as "Utah's Dixie" — the region settled by Mormon pioneers sent south from Salt Lake City by Brigham Young in the 1860s to grow cotton for the territory, drawn by a warm climate that reminded settlers of the American South. St. George became the hub of that cotton mission and grew into the region's largest city. Dixie Days celebrates that pioneer heritage through guided heritage walks (Dixie Treks), historic site tours, and the long-running Dixie Round-Up Rodeo, alongside modern festival programming that has grown into one of St. George's largest annual community events.

Dixie Days 2026 Weekly Schedule

Dixie Days spans a full week, with events building toward the rodeo, parade, and festival in the back half:

  • Early week (golf, treks, film) — Golf tournament, Concert in the Park, and the downtown drone show open the celebration; guided Dixie Treks heritage walks and film screenings at the Electric Theater continue through midweek
  • Dinner on Main — Community street dining on a closed section of downtown Main Street with local restaurants and vendors
  • Town Square Carnival (Thursday-Sunday) — Multi-day carnival with midway rides, games, and fair food in downtown St. George
  • Dixie Round-Up Rodeo (Wednesday-Saturday) — PRCA-sanctioned rodeo at the Historic Dixie Sunbowl
  • Saturday — Dixie Days Dash 4K/2K race, the rodeo parade through downtown, and the Dixie Days Festival (parade, farmers market, live entertainment, family activities) at Vernon Worthen Park

Exact daily times are set by the City of St. George — check the official Dixie Days event page or the SGWOM events calendar for the current schedule.

The Dixie Round-Up Rodeo & Parade

The Dixie Round-Up Rodeo is a longstanding St. George tradition, held at the Historic Dixie Sunbowl as a PRCA-sanctioned event. The rodeo's companion parade — one of Dixie Days' most-attended events — winds through downtown St. George on Saturday morning, featuring float entries from local businesses and civic organizations, marching bands, classic cars, equestrian units, rodeo royalty, public safety vehicles, and community walkers including scout troops and youth groups. Families typically stake out viewing spots along the route well before the parade starts.

Vernon Worthen Park Festival & Town Square Carnival

Vernon Worthen Park hosts the Dixie Days Festival — parade finish-line activities, a farmers market, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. A separate multi-day carnival runs Thursday through Sunday at Town Square, with midway rides and games for all ages plus classic festival food (corn dogs, funnel cakes, kettle corn) alongside food trucks and local vendor offerings.

Dixie Days Dash 4K/2K

The Dixie Days Dash is a pioneer-themed 4K and 2K run along the Dixie Days parade route in downtown St. George, typically starting around 8:00 AM on Saturday with packet pickup near the pickleball courts at 200 South and 400 East. Finishers receive warm scones courtesy of the St. George Exchange Club, with awards for the top three men, women, and youth finishers.

Downtown Drone Show

Rather than a traditional fireworks finale, Dixie Days features a synchronized drone light show over downtown St. George — hundreds of state-of-the-art, LED-equipped drones perform an aerial display with a soundtrack simulcast on local radio. Best viewing is from downtown areas south of St. George Boulevard.

Getting to Downtown St. George and Parking

Dixie Days venues are concentrated in and around downtown St. George, easily reached from anywhere in Washington County via I-15 or St. George Boulevard. Public parking is available near Vernon Worthen Park, Town Square, and the Dixie Sunbowl, though lots fill quickly during the Saturday parade and festival. Downtown streets close to traffic along the parade route — arrive early and expect to walk a few blocks from parking to the main festival grounds.

Combining Dixie Days with Other Activities

Many visitors extend a Dixie Days trip with other Southern Utah recreation. Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Hollow State Park are both a short drive from downtown St. George, and Zion National Park is about 45 minutes east. Downtown St. George itself offers restaurants, shopping, and the Saturday Farmers Market alongside the festival activities, with ample hotel inventory throughout the city for visitors staying the week.

Related St. George Events

Dixie Days is the largest annual celebration in St. George, but Southern Utah hosts several other community festivals throughout the year. Check SGWOM's events calendar for the complete Southern Utah events lineup.

Dixie Days 2026 FAQ

When is Dixie Days 2026?
Dixie Days 2026 runs September 14-20, 2026 in St. George, Utah — a week-long heritage celebration presented by the City of St. George. Events are spread across the full week, with the rodeo, carnival, parade, and festival concentrated in the back half of the week (Wednesday through Sunday).
Where is Dixie Days held?
Dixie Days takes place across multiple venues in St. George, Utah, including Vernon Worthen Park (Dixie Days Festival and parade), the Historic Dixie Sunbowl (rodeo), Town Square (carnival), the Electric Theater (film screenings), and Main Street downtown (Dinner on Main).
What happens at Dixie Days?
Dixie Days features a golf tournament, guided heritage walks (Dixie Treks), film screenings at the Electric Theater, a Dinner on Main street-dining event, a multi-day carnival at Town Square, the Dixie Round-Up Rodeo at the Historic Dixie Sunbowl, a Concert in the Park, a synchronized drone light show over downtown, the Dixie Days Dash 4K/2K race, and the Dixie Days Festival — parade, farmers market, live entertainment, and family activities at Vernon Worthen Park.
Is Dixie Days free to attend?
General admission to the Dixie Days Festival, parade, drone show, and most daytime activities is free. The carnival at Town Square requires ride tickets or wristbands, and the Dixie Round-Up Rodeo typically requires separate ticket purchase. Check the official Dixie Days event page for current pricing on ticketed events.
When is the Dixie Days parade?
The Dixie Round-Up Rodeo Parade is Dixie Days' signature event, traditionally held Saturday morning through downtown St. George as part of the festival weekend (September 19, 2026). The parade features floats, marching bands, equestrian units, rodeo royalty, classic cars, and community organizations.
Where do I park for Dixie Days?
Downtown St. George has public parking available near Vernon Worthen Park, Town Square, and the Dixie Sunbowl, though lots fill quickly during peak events like the Saturday parade and festival. Streets along the parade route close to traffic — plan to arrive early and expect to walk a few blocks from parking to the festival grounds.
Is there a drone show or fireworks at Dixie Days?
Dixie Days' signature nighttime spectacle is a synchronized drone light show over downtown St. George, featuring hundreds of LED-equipped drones with a simulcast radio soundtrack. Best viewing is from downtown south of St. George Boulevard.
Is Dixie Days family-friendly?
Yes. Dixie Days is designed as a family community celebration with the Dixie Days Festival, carnival midway, farmers market, live entertainment, and the Dixie Days Dash race offering activities for all ages. The rodeo and evening events also draw families throughout the week.
What is the history of Dixie Days?
Dixie Days celebrates the pioneer heritage of "Utah's Dixie" — the Southern Utah region settled by Mormon pioneers sent by Brigham Young in the 1860s to grow cotton, whose warm climate reminded settlers of the American South. St. George became the hub of this cotton mission, and Dixie Days honors that history through heritage walks, historic site tours, and the long-running Dixie Round-Up Rodeo tradition, alongside modern festival programming.
What food is available at Dixie Days?
Dinner on Main brings local restaurant and vendor food to a closed section of Main Street in downtown St. George, with dining at long communal tables. The Dixie Days Festival and carnival also feature food trucks and vendors serving festival classics alongside local restaurant offerings.

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