A giant green and yellow, smoke-breathing dragon slowly inched forward, its wings flapping and eyes glaring bright red lights. A few children gasped as the beast let out a loud growl.

Then they cheered.The float, designed by the North Salt Lake Utah Stake, pleased the crowds gathered for the Days' of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 24.

Titled "Dream and Conquer," the entry won the parade's Peoples Choice Award - which is determined by a public ballot cast during a float preview party - and the Outstanding Animation Award - for the float that displays the most exciting special effects. Stake organizers said, however, while they are glad the judges liked the float, they were really trying to please the younger members of the audience.

"We did this strictly for the kids," said Rick Scherbel of the Orchard 3rd Ward, North Salt Lake Utah Stake.

The float, made of more than 14,000 plastic pon pons, was one of several depicting the parade theme, "Still the Right Place."

President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, and his wife, Frances, rode near the front of the parade, greeting a crowd of about 60,000 from the back of a convertible. As the parade began, President Monson took off his hat and waved it at some of the thousands of spectators lining the streets. A small boy watched President Monson, took off his baseball cap and returned the greeting.

About 130 entries, 20 from LDS stakes, traveled the parade route, which started on the corner of Main Street and South Temple and proceeded nine blocks south and six blocks east to Liberty Park.

Members of the Salt Lake North Cottonwood Stake won the Utah Award, given to a float made by a religious organization, with their rendition of dinosaurs - the creatures they said really discovered the state - playing in the winter snow.

The Magna Utah Central Stake took home the Brigham Young Award for its float depicting a pioneer miracle. A giant seagull is portrayed on the float chasing crickets. Float organizers gave the story a Utah twist, placing both the bird and the insects on snow skis.

The Salt Lake Granger South Stake won the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Award for its float honoring pioneer industry. Members of the Salt Lake Olympic Stake took home the Legacy Award, given to the float that best depicts the progression and continuity of past to future, for its entry with flowing computer menus.

The Ensign Award went to the Sandy Utah East Stake, whose entry depicts a young girl reading a book. Jeri Gerber, Willow Canyon 3rd Ward, Sandy Utah East Stake, said organizers wanted to celebrate education and job opportunities.

Kevin Perry, of the Crescent 3rd Ward, Sandy Utah Crescent North Stake, said about 83 families worked together to build his ward's entry - a family picnic near a lake, complete with frogs, ants and fish.

Brother Perry said many of the families who worked on the float came to watch the parade. Watching the parade, he said, is almost as much fun as preparing for it.