This is the week of the big Days of ‘47 celebrations in Utah. They are designed to celebrate the pioneers’ entering the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The highlight of the week is the parade that will roll down South Temple and then turn the corner and go down State Street as it weaves its way to Liberty Park. Thousand of people will line the parade route to get a glimpse of the spectacularly decorated floats. You almost have to be involved in building one to appreciate all the, time, money, and effort that goes into creating a float.

The Process of Building a Parade Float

On July 19 and 20 at the South Town Expo Center, people came to look at the floats and have a close up conversation with the creators of them. I did just that and had the opportunity to talk to Bill Mansell, owner of Mind Perk an online audio and bookstore. He is a high councilman for the Willow Creek Stake. Twenty religious floats are built each year to be in the parade. Opportunities rotate throughout the many Salt Lake City Stakes.

Bill knew before the parade last year that his stake would have the opportunity to build a float and that he would be in charge of the creation of it. That gives the stake a year to do research and begin the long planning process to a finish their float, which will roll down State Street on July 24.

By January a creative artist in Bill’s stake and had drawn out the plans for the winning float. Just by putting a float together you are a winner. Bill told me that it took over 6,000 hours to plan, create and decorate their float. Each stake that is involved receives a base to build the float on and a budget to decorate it.

Bill said they had to find a place to house and decorate the float, which took over 4 months to build.

Below are just a few of the floats that will be in the parade this year. It is amazing that volunteers build all these beautiful floats. One lady told me, “Sometimes while building the float we wonder if it is worthwhile, but boy does our mind change when we see it all done and ready to roll.

Sit back and imagine watching the parade roll down State Street, which it will do on Saturday. Enjoy!