The day of the pioneer

Caitlin Hudgins

Friday, July 23, 2004 | 4:24 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

July 24 - 25, 2004

Don't be surprised if you see a covered wagon meandering along Valle Verde Drive this morning.

Cars dressed up like the old-time vehicles -- and people dressed up like the old-time travelers who rode in them -- will be just one part of the fifth Pioneer Parade, which celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

Starting at 9 a.m., floats, handcarts, bicycles and horses -- and, of course, the "covered wagons" -- will head out from Estes McDoniel Elementary School, down Fox Ridge Drive, along Valle Verde and then back up the other side of the Fox Ridge loop.

After the parade, the 1,600 people expected to attend can chow down on fresh scones straight from on-site Dutch ovens. Milk and juice will be provided to wash down breakfast. The event is open to the public.

By 9:30 a.m. Las Vegas Valley temperatures are expected to be marching toward 100 degrees, so the Henderson Fire Department will be ready to relieve the heat by hosting a "hose-down" at Fox Ridge Park.

"It's like running through a big sprinkler," said cultural arts specialist Regina Sommer of the Green Valley Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Newly refreshed by their jaunt through the cold water, kids will have the chance to participate in games and activities such as leap frog, horseshoes, tug-of-war, face painting and soap and candle making.

"Here in Las Vegas we've got lots of glitz and lights. This is more of an old-fashioned, small-town kind of thing," Sommer said.

A professional square-dance caller and his group will be on hand to add to the historic atmosphere by performing traditional square dances and encouraging onlookers to join them.

Between square dances, live entertainment will be provided by the Gatorades of Green Valley High School, the third-place winners of the Far Western District 2003 High School Quartet Contest.

Once attendants have danced until they've dropped, they can gather 'round storytellers, who will read from books filled with ghost stories, tales from the plains and fables about conundrums, such as how the skunk got its stripe.

There will also be handmade quilts on display, some more than 100 years old, physical activities specialist Jill Luce said. Each quilt will be labeled with information about why it was made, who made it and for what purpose it was used.

In addition, three quilts to be donated to charity will be set up so guests can try their own hand at sewing.

"You can do two stitches and say 'I've quilted in my life,' " Luce said.

The idea for the quilt exhibition, along with all of the other suggestions for the post-parade activities, came from church members.

"We asked each person to come up with an idea that would go along with a Western theme," Luce said.

Because the Anthem and Warm Springs stakes are joining the Green Valley Stake for the event, twice as many people are expected to come to the parade this year as last year, Sommer said.

With such a crowd and so many activities available, Luce encourages parents to come out to the parade with their children to celebrate Western heritage.

"It's in honor of the pioneers who actually helped settle Las Vegas," she said. "It'll flat out be a lot of fun for families."