Fun Events Planned for Panaca Pioneer Day Next Saturday

If you’re looking for a short getaway from Eureka next week, Pananca might be the way to go.

The small town less than 200 miles from Eureka is gearing up for its annual Pioneer Day celebration.

The parade will be Saturday July 23 at 4 p.m. Lineup begins at 3 p.m. on Fifth Street. Panaca celebrates Pioneer Day on the Saturday closest to July 24 every year. The 24th, Pioneer Day, is an official holiday in Utah.

The day has great significance for the residents of Utah and especially for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The day commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

Panaca was southern Nevada’s first permanent settlement, founded as a Mormon Colony in 1864, the same year Nevada became a state 152 years ago.

This year the Nellis AFB Honor Guard will be joining in at Panaca’s celebration as special guests. The Honor Guard will lead the parade for the first time. They will be attending the BBQ dinner after the parade at the Lynx Lair.
Prices for the dinner are $8 for ages 12 and up, $5 for children 5 to 11 and under 5 free.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Still Pioneering.” Cash prizes and gift certificates will be awarded to the winners. Parade entry forms are available. Contact Dixie Bazil at 775-728-4140.

Festivities will actually begin on Friday July 22 with a movie at the elementary school lawn at 9 p.m. The movie will be “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Bring blankets to sit on. Cub Scouts will be selling concessions.

On Saturday morning, July 23, there will be the Wake-Up By Dynamite at 6 a.m.

There is a 5K run at 6 a.m., registration at 5:30 at the LDS Church on Main Street. Cost is $20, which includes a T-shirt.

The flag raising ceremony presented by the Boy Scouts of America will be at 6:30 a.m. on the LDS Church lawn.

A Pancake Breakfast will be from 7 to 9 a.m. at the church lawn. Prices are $6 12 and up, $5 for children age 5-11 and under 5 free.

There will be races at the elementary school from 9 to 11 a.m. The Panaca Fire Department will hold its Money Scramble at 11:30 at the high school parking lot.

Bounce houses, water slides, etc. will be available at the middle school lawn from 12 to 3 at the rate of $5 an hour.

A Home Run Derby will be at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Cost is $30 a team, and winners receive T-shirts.