BOUNTIFUL—July is here and there are a host of fun activities for the whole family. One popular event that’s in its 76th year is the Handcart Days in Bountiful. It’s not just for residents, everyone around Davis County is invited to celebrate the state’s pioneer heritage.

With the theme of Faith and Freedom, Handcart Days honors the pioneers who practiced faith in crossing the plains to enter the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 and to recognize the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“It’s meant to be a celebration that includes everyone in the area of all denominations,” said volunteer Shaun Stahle. “It’s often seen as a religious holiday but it is for all people who live in the area and feel a part of the unique heritage that we have and continue to create a beautiful and safe place for us to live.”

There are modern day pioneers in the community today that are doing wonderful things just as there were in the days of settling the area, he said.

The Days of 47 royalty wave as the float rides down Main Street in the 2024 Handcart Days parade. Photo by Rad Thornberry

 The popular Handcart Days parade – the second largest in Utah – kicks off the activities in the park on Saturday, July 25 at 9 a.m. The Grand Marshal is Greg Putz, who has been running monthly community dinners for many years.

“We have around 100 entrants right now,” said Beth Child, who is parade chairman with her husband Matt. “We’ve had to turn some people down. People can expect to see some of the old favorites and a few new things.”

“It’s a community parade so we try to involve the community as much as we can,” said Matt. “We have junior highs and high schools. We have bands, we have youth groups, first responders, police, firefighters, etc.” 

“We have horses, Beth said. “Those are always a favorite.”

 “Then we have floats, those are always fun,” Matt said. “We’ve also gotten several that will also be in the Days of 47 parade. It’s a good mix of fun things. Old tractors, a lot of cars, supercars, mustangs. Just fun things for kids of all ages to enjoy.”

There will be lots of candy handed out, said Beth. “One of our biggest concerns is safety. So we’ve asked entrants that if they’re handing out candy they have to have people walking on the sides of the street to just hand out to kids on the side.”

One thing that people wonder about is who puts on the parade, she said. “Is it a church thing? Is it a city thing? I think there is some confusion. Handcart Days started 76 years ago as a fundraiser for the local churches.”

It was for a stake camp, said Matt. “A property up in the mountains where they could have a camp.” 

By the time they bought the camp the community really started to enjoy Handcart Days, Beth said. “So a nonprofit organization was formed to continue with Handcart Days. Because of the makeup of the community at that time, the stakes just took on the responsibility for that.”

Over the years it’s grown, the local stakes have continued to do that but are trying to do more outreach to the whole community, she said. “So it’s run now by the nonprofit organization. It’s supported by both the LDS church and by the city. City support comes from trash cleanup, police support and park support.”

Besides the parade, there are activities both Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25.

“Friday night, which is on the 24th this year, consists of all the park activities,” said Lori Poole who is the Handcart Days president with her husband Curtis. “So all the wonderful food. People come to have their scones and traditional things like pulled pork sandwiches and things like that.”

The activities start at 5 p.m., she said. “It’s at the city park and then at 8 p.m. we have our free concert in the park and this year our performer is Jenny Oaks Baker and her family so we think that is going to be a lot of fun. Bring your chair and a blanket and come get a scone and watch.”

There will be more festivities on Saturday at the park, at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lori said. “We’re going to have all of our fun activities, inflatables, face painting, etc. We’ve got the Mountain Man and our Native American that were here last year. There will also be a couple more performers during the afternoon.”

There are obviously the handcart pioneers, but also so many people who took a leap and came here, she said. “Thank heavens that they had the freedom to do so. We’re just grateful that everything that happened 250 years ago gave us the freedom to go where we want to go and do what we want to do.”

The Bountiful City Park is located at 400 N. 200 West. The parade runs north along Bountiful Main Street from 1500 South to 400 North then turns west and continues to 100 West. For more information visit https://handcartdays.org/.