Youth parade full of pageantry, color, fun
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Marching bands, colorful floats and a large American Flag roamed the parade route during the sunny morning of July 18 during the Days of '47 youth parade. Spectators of all ages lined the streets and cheered as children walked with their floats in celebration of Utah's pioneer heritage.
"We have one of the largest festivals and parades in the United States," said Steve James, member of the board of directors for the Days of '47 Youth Festival. "What a blessing for families to come together as a family and celebrate Utah."
In total, 20 stakes from around the Salt Lake Valley created floats and participated in the parade, alongside marching bands, dancing groups, Boy Scouts and various ethnic groups within the community. But the parade was only the finishing touch to many hours of hard work.
"We started having activities in June, but we have been doing [Primary] sharing times and talking about the parade since the beginning of the year," said Kathy Perry, South Jordan Utah Stake Primary president. The theme to their float was "Building Eternal Families."
Sister Perry said not only were the preparations before the parade a great way to teach about building families, it was also a great way to get many families involved working together.
"I hope they had a sense of their family," said Sister Perry. "That was our theme this year. We talked a lot about being kind and respectful, giving service and how to build a happy family."
For the South Jordan Utah Stake's float, participants wore construction hats, tool belts and pushed wheelbarrows filled with children as they roamed the parade route. Their float included photos of the families in their stake to represent building eternal families.
"Over the past few years stakes are really taking the theme into the children's lives," said Becky Edwards, youth parade chairman. "I think the process of preparation for this parade is as important as the final event."
But the parade was more than a chance to wave at spectators. It was a chance to work together, celebrate families and have fun.
"It shows who we are and what we do," said Kacy Christensen, an 11-year-old from the South Jordan 2nd Ward. Three of her siblings were in the parade with her, making it a family event.
"We hoped that they would develop feelings about building strong families and then just have a boatload of fun doing it," said Sister Perry. "And, we had a ball!"
Not only was the parade a fun event for the stakes involved, it was also a great way to be involved in the community.
"It is a sense of community and pride in the great state that we live in," said Brother James. "We celebrate the early pioneers, but we also celebrate the pioneers of today."
