The July 24 date, what the holiday means, what's closed, fireworks rules, and Pioneer Day parades, rodeos and fireworks in St. George, Washington, Enterprise and Cedar City.
Pioneer Day 2027: Date, Meaning & Quick Facts
Pioneer Day 2027 is Saturday, July 24. Because July 24 falls on a Saturday, the legal holiday is observed Friday, July 23, so state offices close that day. It is a Utah state holiday marking the day Brigham Young and the first Latter-day Saint pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. State and local government offices close, and towns hold parades, rodeos and fireworks.
DateSaturday, July 24, 2027 (observed Friday, July 23)
Holiday typeUtah state holiday (not federal)
Personal fireworksLegal July 22–25; until midnight on the 24th
Near St. GeorgeWashington City parade 8 AM, fireworks 10 PM
Last updated:
Pioneer Day Dates by Year
Pioneer Day is always July 24. Under Utah Code 63G-1-301, when July 24 lands on a Saturday the state observes the holiday the Friday before, and when it lands on a Sunday it is observed the Monday after.
Pioneer Day dates 2026 through 2031
Year
July 24 falls on
State holiday observed
Pioneer Day 2026
Friday, July 24
Friday, July 24
Pioneer Day 2027
Saturday, July 24
Friday, July 23
Pioneer Day 2028
Monday, July 24
Monday, July 24
Pioneer Day 2029
Tuesday, July 24
Tuesday, July 24
Pioneer Day 2030
Wednesday, July 24
Wednesday, July 24
Pioneer Day 2031
Thursday, July 24
Thursday, July 24
What Is Pioneer Day?
Pioneer Day, known to most Utahns simply as “the 24th of July,” commemorates July 24, 1847, when Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley with the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers. It is one of the few state-specific holidays in the country and is observed only in Utah.
The holiday has roots in Latter-day Saint history, but today it is a statewide summer celebration of Utah heritage for everyone. Salt Lake City's Days of '47 events are the best known, and towns across the state hold their own parades, rodeos, fireworks and community breakfasts.
Southern Utah's own pioneer story began soon after. Brigham Young sent settlers to Cedar City in 1851 for the Iron Mission, and St. George was founded in 1861 as the center of the Cotton Mission. Towns like Washington, Santa Clara, Enterprise and Grafton grew from the same wave of settlement, which is why Pioneer Day still feels local here.
Pioneer Day 2026 in Southern Utah: Parades, Rodeos & Fireworks
These are the Southern Utah Pioneer Day celebrations as they ran in 2026. Each one is an annual tradition. We update this page when organizers announce the 2027 schedule. For St. George residents, Washington City's parade and fireworks are right next door.
Washington · Friday, July 24, 2026
Washington City Pioneer Day Parade & Fireworks
Parade 8 AM on Telegraph Street · children’s booths at Veterans Park · fireworks 10 PM
Washington City hosts the closest full Pioneer Day celebration to St. George every July 24: a morning parade down Telegraph Street, kids’ activities in Veterans Park, swimming at the Washington City Community Center, and fireworks launched from Veterans Park and the baseball complex after dark. Parade entries register through the city.
Source: washingtonutah.gov
Enterprise · July 23–25, 2026
Enterprise Rodeo
7:45 PM nightly · American Legion Rodeo Grounds, 1003 E 100 N · $10 adults, $5 ages 3–11, 2 and under free
A three-night amateur rodeo that has run around the 24th of July since the early 1900s, now put on by the American Legion. Events include bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and team roping. Enterprise also holds an annual Pioneer Day Run on the morning of July 24 (6:30 AM from 100 West and Main in 2026).
Source: enterpriserodeo.com
Cedar City · July 23–24, 2026
Cedar City Pioneer Day Heritage Festival
Thu noon–8 PM, Fri 10 AM–7 PM · Main Street Park, 200 N Main St · free
Two days of vendors, face painting, games, inflatables and a chili cook-off in downtown Cedar City’s Main Street Park, open to the whole community at no charge.
Source: cedarcityut.gov
Cedar City · Thursday, July 23, 2026
Pioneer Legacy Celebration
Gates 7 PM, performance 9:30 PM · SUU Eccles Coliseum, 99 S 1100 W · free
A free musical and fireworks show presented with the Osmond family, Cedar City and Southern Utah University. A large youth cast sings, dances and acts out the story of Southern Utah’s pioneers on a multi-stage set with wagons, handcarts and cabins.
State law allows personal (Class C) fireworks from July 22 through July 25 for Pioneer Day, from 11 AM to 11 PM, with hours extended to midnight on July 24. Cities and counties can close wildland-urban interface and other fire-prone areas. Southern Utah cities publish restriction maps each summer. Check your city's map before lighting anything, and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby.
What's Open and Closed on Pioneer Day
Closed: state and county offices, most city offices (Cedar City's City Hall closed July 24, 2026), state courts and state liquor stores.
Open: U.S. Post Offices, with regular mail delivery, because Pioneer Day isn't a federal holiday. Most restaurants, grocery stores and attractions are also open.
Check first: banks and credit unions (many close), and locally owned shops that may take the day off.
Schools: K–12 schools are on summer break.
Pioneer History to Explore in Southern Utah
Pioneer Day weekend is a good time to see the places the holiday celebrates:
Grafton Ghost Town: a preserved pioneer settlement near Zion, with a schoolhouse, homes and cemetery.
Beat the heat. Late-July highs in St. George are often above 100°F. Stake out parade spots early with shade and water, and plan hikes for sunrise. Our summer survival guide has more.
Go up the mountain. Cedar City, at about 5,800 feet, runs noticeably cooler, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival is in season in late July.
Book early. Pioneer Day is a popular long weekend for Utah travelers, and it lands in peak Zion season.
Plan July together. Pioneer Day comes three weeks after Independence Day. See our July 4th guide for the first holiday of the month.
Pioneer Day FAQ
When is Pioneer Day 2027?
Pioneer Day 2027 falls on Saturday, July 24, 2027. Because July 24 falls on a Saturday, the legal holiday is observed Friday, July 23, so state offices close that day. Pioneer Day is July 24 every year.
When was Pioneer Day 2026?
Pioneer Day 2026 was Friday, July 24, 2026, which gave most Utahns a three-day weekend. In Southern Utah, Washington City held its parade and fireworks that day, the Enterprise Rodeo ran July 23–25, and Cedar City hosted its Pioneer Day Heritage Festival (July 23–24) and the Pioneer Legacy Celebration (July 23).
What is Pioneer Day?
Pioneer Day is a Utah state holiday on July 24 that commemorates the arrival of Brigham Young and the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Today it is a statewide celebration of Utah heritage with parades, rodeos, fireworks and family gatherings, whatever your background.
Is Pioneer Day a state or federal holiday?
Pioneer Day is a Utah state holiday, not a federal one. State, county and most city offices close, and state liquor stores close. Because it is not a federal holiday, U.S. Post Offices stay open and mail is delivered. Many banks and credit unions close, so check your branch. When July 24 falls on a Saturday the holiday is observed the Friday before, and when it falls on a Sunday it is observed the Monday after.
When can you set off fireworks for Pioneer Day in Utah?
Utah allows personal fireworks from July 22 through July 25 for Pioneer Day, between 11 AM and 11 PM, with hours extended to midnight on July 24. Cities and counties can close fire-prone areas, so check your city’s fireworks restriction map before lighting anything.
Where are Pioneer Day fireworks near St. George?
The closest Pioneer Day fireworks show to St. George is in Washington City, launched from Veterans Park and the baseball complex at 10 PM on July 24. In Cedar City, the free Pioneer Legacy Celebration at SUU’s Eccles Coliseum ends with a fireworks show.
What is there to do on Pioneer Day weekend in Southern Utah?
Catch the Washington City parade, the Enterprise Rodeo, or Cedar City’s Heritage Festival and Pioneer Legacy Celebration. You can also visit pioneer sites like Grafton Ghost Town and Frontier Homestead State Park Museum, or escape the heat in Cedar City, where the Utah Shakespeare Festival is in season.
