Photo gallery: Panguitch kicks off Pioneer Day weekend with lively parade

Written by Jeff Richards
July 24, 2023

PANGUITCH — Hundreds of people lined the streets of Main and Center in Panguitch for the town’s annual Pioneer Day parade on Saturday.

Pioneer Day parade, Panguitch, Utah, July 22, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Although the official state holiday is Monday, July 24, Garfield County folks got the weekend off to a rousing start a couple of days early.

Parade entries included horseback riders, sports teams, local businesses, various classic cars, farm tractors and Panguitch High School alumni celebrating milestone reunion years. The Panguitch Rhythm Band, a staple of the town’s parade since 1936, featured performers in pioneer-era dresses playing a selection of lively tunes.

In addition to throwing candy to the throngs lining the sidewalks, many of the float-riders squirted super soakers or tossed water balloons at spectators. Then toward the end, the fire engines emptied their tanks, drenching the crowds of people gathered in the street behind the trucks.

The parade was one of several activities that took place throughout the day, including a Lions Club breakfast, a Daughters of Utah Pioneers historical program, a firefighters’ lunch at the fairgrounds, games and activities at the city park and an invitational rodeo at the Triple C Arena in the evening.

Pioneer Day activities abound throughout Southern Utah. Click here for details.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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