This is an old news article from a previous year. The events in this article are from the 2023 Escalante Pioneer Day celebration. To read about 2024, go to Escalante Celebrates Family and Heritage with Traditional 24th.
Escalante City held its Pioneer Day celebration on July 21 and 22. The annual tradition is Escalante’s biggest event, and is also one of the largest Pioneer Day celebrations in the region, attracting thousands of visitors.
The main events, just as in past years, include the rodeo and junior rodeo led by the Escalante Riding Club, the parade put on by the Lions Club, and the carnival organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ local primary program. Other events included a dance on the Friday night (live music was provided by the St. George-based band Closure) and the Pioneer Day breakfast.
The parade is capped each year when the Fire Department extends the fire truck ladder and discharges an entire load of water over the crowd. The same crew is also responsible for launching fireworks in the evening just east of the high school.
Also in line with tradition, the Saturday morning celebration began around 6:00 with the “canons” — as the Fire Department moved all over town to launch percussive salutes, featuring a loud bang like a canon. This tradition has been going on longer than anyone can remember.
Fred Spencer, who volunteers with the Fire Department, said while he was growing up in the 1960s, Dale Wilson took over the tradition using quarter-stick, half-stick and full sticks of dynamite to wake the town up before the Lions Club bandwagon. Fred added that unlike during the dynamite days, the salute fireworks don’t shatter windows.
– The Byway
More Pictures
Feature image caption: Kids cool off at the end of the parade thanks to a shower from the Escalante Fire Department.
Read about other fun Pioneer Day Celebrations across Southern Utah in Piute’s 24th Celebration.