Escalante once again pulled off a well-run and attended 24th of July celebration on July 26 and 27.
Pioneer Day celebrations are traditionally held on the closest weekend to the holiday in Escalante so the festivities began on July 26 with the Junior Rodeo put on by the Escalante Riding Club. Local (and local at heart) kids participated in roping, barrel racing, pole bending, mutton bustin’, calf riding and money cow. The EHS students put on a dance with a live band.
Saturday’s activities began with the traditional wakeup call cannon booms early in the morning followed by some morning music from the mobile Lion’s Club band. Hundreds of kids lined up for the bike parade and rode down Main Street until the beginning of the official parade. Parade organizers raised $2,000 to go towards parade prizes this year and the participants did not disappoint. The display of heritage and candy was thick with this year’s theme, “Faith in Every Footstep.”
The winners of the parade were:
- Sweepstakes: Julie Ford Family (Float 16)
- 1st Taylor Family (3)
- 2nd EHS Cheer Team (5)
- 3rd The Last Buffalo (18)
- 4th Smokies’ 80th birthday (20).
Immediately following the parade, the Griffin Shootout — a longstanding tradition — once again delighted the attendees. The kids carnival, blow-ups, foot races, and vendors occupied families for hours. The celebration ended with the Escalante 24th Rodeo and fireworks set off by the Escalante Fire Department.
– The Byway
Feature image courtesy of AJ Martel, The Byway.