With the 24th of July coming up in Utah (also known as Pioneer Day), it’s time for Latter-day Saint wards and stakes to get busy planning a fun way to celebrate this special state holiday. Pioneer Day is our way of remembering and celebrating the incredible journey of the “Mormon” pioneers who first entered the Salt Lake Valley back on July 24th, 1847. These early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled thousands of miles across rugged terrain in wagons and even pulling handcarts, seeking a place where they could escape persecution and practice their religion freely. It was a journey filled with hardship, faith, and immense courage.

Pioneer Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices those early settlers made, their resilience in the face of adversity, and the foundation of faith that they built. It’s a celebration of their strength and their dedication to God. Communities all over the state come together for parades, fireworks, rodeos, family gatherings, and summer fun. Whether you’re in a Latter-day Saint ward in Utah or outside of Utah, there’s plenty of reason to put some fun together and celebrate this important date in history. It’s a great opportunity to connect with your ward and neighborhood. I hope this Pioneer Day activity idea will give you some inspiration!

Pioneer Day Ward Activity Idea – Pioneer Heritage Hoedown

To make this event truly memorable and inclusive, set up various interactive booths and activity stations. Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

“Little Trekkers” Pioneer Obstacle Course Activity

Put together a playful obstacle course designed for kids, offering a lighthearted nod to the physical demands of the pioneers’ journey. At the start of the obstacle course, each kid can be given a tin bucket for their “supplies” to bring to the final destination. (Buckets returned at the end of the course, for the other players to use.)

• “Supply Station” – Have a pile of objects for the kids to fill up their buckets with, to bring to the Salt Lake Valley (a.k.a. the end of the obstacle course.) Items could be as simple as small bean bags, potatoes, water bottles, etc.
• “Rocky Mountain Climb” – Put together some sort of large obstacle for the kids to climb over (mini climbing wall, pile of furniture style bean bags, stacked boxes, etc.)
• “Lost Wagon Wheels” – Gather some used tires and have the kids hop/step through each one to the next destination.
• “Slippery Slope” – If there is a small hill, pin a painters tarp on the hill, and spray with soap and water. Let the kids slide down. Another option would be to use ice blocks on the grass hill.
• “Creek Crossing” – Find or create a low balance beam or wood board for the kids to carefully walk across without falling off.
• “Echo Canyon Yell” – At one point in the course, have a designated spot where the kids have to give a little “yee-haw!” yell or “I can do hard things!”
• “Rattlesnake Slither” – Gather a bunch of fake snakes or ropes and spread across a small area for the kids to carefully step over.

Once the kids complete the obstacle course and reach the “Salt Lake Valley,” have them trade their supplies for a little pioneer treat (rock candy, caramel corn, bag of popcorn, etc.)

Old-Fashioned Pioneer Games & Contests for The 24th of July

Here’s a list of classic outdoor games that were popular in earlier times, encouraging friendly competition and laughter. I’ve included some water activities too, even though they’re not pioneer related. Gotta beat that heat in Utah!

• Potato Sack Races – Step into a potato sack, hold it up, and hop your way across the field.
• Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest – Hand out slices of watermelon. Have the contestants gather their seeds and spit them as far as they can. Put a line on the ground to mark the furthest spit that people need to try and beat.
• Tug of War – All you need is a really long, thick rope, with knots evenly spaced apart and a ribbon tied on the rope, in the exact center. Gather equal teams on each side of the rope, pulling in opposite directions, to try and get the rope to cross the boundary to their team’s side.
• Hoop Rolling Race – You will need hula hoops or some sort of circular object of similar size and a decent stick. The hula hoop is rolled across the game field using the stick to keep it moving forward.
• Wheelbarrow Races – I think we all remember this from our childhood! One person lays with their tummy on the ground and pushes up into a plank position, with another teammate holding their feet from behind. Together, they walk across the game field, as fast as they can, as the “wheelbarrow” player walks on their hands.
• Stilt Walking – You can either use cans with ropes tied on them for holding onto or real stilts.
• Jump Roping Contests – Even better to use a double dutch rope!
• Water Balloon Toss – How far can two people spread to throw and catch their water balloons without dropping them??
• Fishing for Prizes – This is a classic fair game. The prizes can be pioneer related (marbles, corn husk doll, whittle wood piece, candy, etc.)
• Sponge Water Squeeze Race – Have teams where each member has their own sponge. They dip it into a bucket of water, run across the way to an empty, clear bucket with a line on it, and squeeze the water out of their sponge. The first team to get the water to reach the line on their bucket is the winner.

Pioneer Craft Stations

A hands-on area where participants can try their hand at simple, free crafts reminiscent of pioneer resourcefulness and have souvenirs to remember the celebration.

• Rag Dolls – Provide scrap fabric, yarn, and simple instructions for crafting little dolls.
• Paper Quilling Station – Offering strips of colorful paper and tools to create rolled paper designs.
• Friendship Bracelet Making – Using string to create bracelets with beads or teach a simple “friendship bracelet” pattern with embroidery floss.
• Simple Tin Punching (with supervision) – Using soft aluminum and nails or a tin punch to create basic patterns on small metal pieces.
• Leather Stamping – Provide a small piece of leather or blank leather keychains and allow participants to stamp words using metal stamps.
• Whittling – Provide a piece of balsam wood and have them practice whittling it for a couple minutes.
• Cat’s Cradle String Game – Provide some string to tie into a circle. Teach the kids how to play Cat’s Cradle.
• Button on String Game – Provide string, a button, to slide on, and instructions on how to play.

Pioneer Food Ideas for Ward Activity

• Butter Churning Demonstration – Let participants try their hand at churning butter and tasting it on a piece of sourdough bread. The jar shaking method is perfect for this!
• Dutch Oven Cooking – Peach cobbler would be a fun dessert to scoop for people, after they’ve eaten their dinner. Squirt a bit of whipped cream on top.

• Pulled Pork or Beef Sandwiches – These are always a crowd-pleaser and can be made in large quantities in a slow cooker or smoker. Serve them on simple buns with coleslaw on the side. It’s easy to eat while walking around and enjoying the activities.

• Corn on the Cob – A quintessential summer and country food! You can grill it, boil it, or even roast it in the husk. Offer plenty of butter and maybe some seasoning salt.

• Baked Beans – A classic side dish that goes well with just about anything. You can make a big batch in a slow cooker with bacon, molasses, and onions for a flavorful, slightly sweet taste.

• Potato Salad – Another staple for outdoor gatherings. A simple, creamy potato salad is always a hit. My very, very favorite recipe is my mom’s recipe… has lots of salt and dill pickles. It’s SOOO good!! Best Potato Salad Ever

• Watermelon (of course!) – Sliced watermelon is a must for a hot July day. It’s refreshing, hydrating, and fits the pioneer theme perfectly. You could even have a watermelon carving display for a bit of visual interest.

• Simple Coleslaw –  A cool and crunchy side that complements heavier dishes like pulled pork. A basic coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing is always a good choice.

• Cornbread – A slightly sweet and crumbly cornbread is a wonderful accompaniment to baked beans or chili (if you want to offer a heartier option). You can bake it in large pans and cut it into squares.

• Fruit Cobbler or Crisp – Using seasonal fruits like peaches, berries, or apples, a simple cobbler or crisp baked in a large pan is a delicious and relatively easy dessert to serve a crowd. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you want to get fancy.

• Lemonade and Water – Keep everyone hydrated with large dispensers of classic summer drinks like lemonade and water. You can even offer a flavored lemonade option like raspberry or strawberry.

• Popcorn – A simple and inexpensive snack that can be served in large bags or buckets. It feels a bit like an old-fashioned treat.

• S’mores Station – If you’ll have a safe area for a small fire pit or even just a chafing dish with Sterno, a s’mores station is always a fun and interactive dessert option, especially as the evening cools down. Provide graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars.

• Food Trucks – I’m sure the pioneers would be in disbelief if they could see our food trucks today! Food trucks are definitely not a great representation of the past, but some of the food they sell could be. Or, you can just loosen up on the theme a little and bring in these guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Majybe a corn dog truck? Funnel cakes? Baked potatoes?

Take It Up a Notch at Your Pioneer-Themed Neighborhood Party

Everyone will expect games, crafts, and food at your LDS 24th of July party, and with that alone, they will have a blast. But, here are some extra ideas to really take your heritage hoedown up a notch!

• Community Trading Post – How fun would it be to have a corner of the field dedicated to the buying and selling of goods from people in the neighborhood?! Kids and adults could set up a table to sell their homemade crafts, art, treats, etc. What a neat way to discover the talents of those around you!
• Pioneer or Scary Stories Gathering – It’s probably too hot for a real fire, but just having large logs place in a huge “circle” with an entertaining story-teller sitting on one of them could inspire people to pull up a seat and be entertained (or even take a break.) Big foot stories are always captivating!
• Sing-a-Long Folk Songs – Stories are great, but songs are extra fun. If you have someone that can sing and play the guitar, have them sit down and sing, even teach, some folk songs to the crowd that gathers.
• Live Bands – You can’t go wrong with live music. Well, I guess you could, but it’s still super fun and creates a festival-like atmosphere.
• Line Dancing Lessons – Line dancing is a fun way to engage a crowd, and how fun would it be to learn some of the more modern line dances. I think most of us stopped progressing after learning the Boot Scoot and Boogie!
• Farm Animal Petting Zoo – Think goats, pigs, baby ANYTHING…
• Fireworks – If you hold the event ON the 24th of July, there will be fireworks all over Utah, and you can save the money. If not, maybe a handful of fireworks would be a fun way to end the evening. Or even, just sparklers.
• Information Station – This would be a great place to teach people about the pioneers, the history of Utah, or even The Church, if someone is interested. A document could be put together with names and numbers of local ward leaders, online neighborhood groups to join, emergency preparedness leaders, businesses to support of neighborhood folks, the time for church, etc. Have a stack of free copies of The Book of Mormon available, as well. Keep it light, non-threatening, optional, and fun!

This is just a starting point, of course! The LDS ward activity committee can discuss these ideas further, tailor them to your ward’s specific resources and talents, and add their own creative touches. Bringing the community together, in a fun way, is always a good idea! Brigham Young would be proud. 🙂

Need more ideas for the 24th of July?? Check out:

1. 15 Pioneer Day Activities and Crafts for Kids
2. Pioneer Day Lesson and Game for Primary or Family Home Evening
3. Pioneer Candy Recipes

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