Dozens of intricate parade floats were on display at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah, during the Days of '47 Float Preview Party held on July 21 and 22, 2026. The event allowed the public to meet the technicians and creators behind the designs and vote for the upcoming People's Choice and Children's Choice awards.
A First Look at the Floats
The two-day event, which was free to the public, provided a first look at the massive displays intended for the July 24 parade. According to a listing from NowPlayingUtah.com, the preview party allowed attendees to see how the floats come together before the actual parade rolls. During the event, visitors could participate in voting for their favorite designs, with the winners to be announced via banners on July 24.
In addition to viewing the floats, the event featured opportunities for the public to take photos with local royalty between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. The Mountain America Expo Center, formerly known as the South Towne Expo Center, served as the venue for the festivities.
Faith and Miracles in Design
The floats, which pay homage to the first pioneers who arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, were designed and built by local members of various stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As Church News reported, many volunteers described the process of building the displays as a series of miracles driven by faith.
One such display, created by the Glenmoor Utah South Jordan Stake, featured a model of the Salt Lake Temple resting atop a large granite-style rock made of foam. The float included a water feature designed to represent the spread of the gospel, with water flowing from the temple into multiple pools surrounded by gardens of flowers, insects, and animals. To make the water more visible, the builders used turquoise dye.
The Glenmoor Stake Float
The Glenmoor stake float committee emphasized the spiritual nature of their project. Cori Shaw, a member of the committee, stated that the theme for the float was "Where hope flows, love grows." Shaw noted that the project felt like a divine plan, remarking, "We have only been the hands. This has been Heavenly Father's plan all along."
Shaw also shared how unexpected blessings assisted the project, such as receiving free foam for the granite rock after a store employee learned the purpose of the purchase. The committee also noted personal miracles, including a volunteer being able to hold a long-awaited conversation with a son after sending a photo of the water feature, and a mother-daughter duo who volunteered for 12 hours a day to assist with the greenery.
Honoring Ancestral Heritage
The Herriman Utah South Stake presented a float featuring 324 hand-milled wooden dolls, each representing a specific pioneer ancestor from within the stake. Amy Morris, a member of the float committee, explained that the stake hosted events where members could clothe and paint the dolls to resemble their ancestors.
Because the number of ancestors exceeded the physical space available on the float, co-chair Jeremy Moser implemented a solution to ensure everyone was honored. The float included a treasure chest containing slips of paper with names written on them for those ancestors who did not have a corresponding doll. Moser also composed a song about the stake's pioneer heritage that played through speakers as patrons walked past the display.
Representing Diverse Pioneers
The West Jordan Utah Wasatch Meadows Stake (Spanish) showcased a float representing ancient scripture to highlight the history of Spanish-speaking pioneers. The display featured a family reading from 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon, set against a backdrop of a towering Mayan-style temple with stone-textured steps and golden stairs.
Beneath the temple, figures modeled after Nephites look upward, while tubes of light illuminate the scene to represent the coming of the resurrected Jesus Christ. Volunteer Daniel Hernandez, representing the stake, noted that the display was intended to share their specific story, stating, "We come from pioneers too."
Community Connection
The Days of '47 Float Preview Party served as a vital bridge between the creators of the parade and the community. By opening the doors of the Mountain America Expo Center to the public, the event allowed for a shared appreciation of the craftsmanship and spiritual dedication required to celebrate Utah's pioneer history.
