Kid’s rodeo, parade floats, and Longhorn Cattle kick off the Days of ’47 celebrations

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Eight Texas longhorn cattle ushered in the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo as part of a cattle drive through downtown Salt Lake City Monday.

“You feel like you’re in a movie or something. It’s so surreal,” Governor Spencer Cox said during Monday morning’s festivities. Cox was accompanied by First Lady Abby Cox on horseback during the drive.

The cattle drive began at 9 a.m. Monday morning near 500 South and West Temple. The drive aims to show off eight Texas longhorns with 8-foot-long horns through the streets as well as a number of cowboys and cowgirls driving the cattle.

The herd of horns made it to the Utah State Fairpark—officially kicking off Pioneer Week here In Utah.

Shortly after the drive, the Utah State Fairpark Rodeo Arena hosted the Hands-on kid’s rodeo. Kids came to compete from the Northeast Community Center. The kid’s rodeo included activities like horseback riding, roping, and barrel racing.

This year`s cattle drive brought in cowboys, the Utah Cowgirl Collective, Governor and First Lady Cox on horseback, wagons, and eight Texas Longhorns.

Elsewhere, at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, participants in the Days of ’47 Parade preview their floats.

“When we’re together, doing things as neighbors, friends, families we’re in the pioneer spirit,” one float creator named Mark told ABC4.

This year’s Days of ’47 Parade is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. beginning at South Temple and State Street. The route will end on 900 South and 600 East.