Pioneer Days returns to St. Anthony with rodeo, parade and nearly a century of tradition
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ST. ANTHONY – The annual Fremont County Pioneer Days celebration is underway in St. Anthony.
The theme for this year’s event is “America the Beautiful,” according to its website.
A community production of “Annie” began the festivities on Monday. Nightly performances happen at South Fremont High School, with two final performances scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.
A variety of activities are in store for the weekend, including the Pioneer Days Rodeo at the Fremont County Fairgrounds. The two-day event is happening Friday and Saturday night. Mutton Bustin’ and calf riding will start at 6 p.m. The regular rodeo will start at 7 p.m.
Festivities will begin on Saturday morning with a 5K Fun Run at Henrys Fork Elementary School. The race starts at 7 a.m., but those who haven’t preregistered online can register in person beginning at 6 a.m. A baked food sale is happening at the St. Anthony City Building at 7:30 a.m.
Before the parade at 10 a.m., there will also be a car show at the St. Anthony Stake Center parking lot at 8 a.m.
The annual celebration dates back more than a century and attracts people from all over the country. Many people make this celebration part of their family or class reunion.
A tradition rich in history
Pioneer Day is a celebration of the early pioneers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who left Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846 to escape persecution. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.
More than a decade after settling Salt Lake, a band of saints headed north into what is now eastern Idaho. Franklin, known today as the oldest town in Idaho, was settled in 1860. The Snake River Valley, with its abundance of water and natural resources, lured people farther north.
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In 1882, Church President John Taylor assigned William Rigby —- from whom the city of Rigby gets its name —- to accompany Thomas Ricks —- the future namesake for the city of Rexburg —- and William Preston, for whom the city of Preston is named, to survey the area and “prepare the way for the rapid colonization of the country.”
On March 16, 1883, Rigby officially dedicated and named Rexburg in honor of Ricks, whose German stem-name was Rex.
“It grew quickly, attracting individuals eager to bring industry and progress to the region. By Idaho’s statehood in 1890 (just 7 years later), Rexburg was the second-largest city in the state,” the City of Rexburg reports on its website.
Bannock Stake Academy was established in 1888, which later became Ricks Academy. It was renamed Ricks College in 1915 and is known today as Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Cadwallader Owens was among those who settled Sand Creek, what is now Iona, in 1884. On June 17, 1884, LDS Apostles Wilford Woodruff and Heber J. Grant paid a visit to officially organize the first Latter-day Saint congregation in the territory.
During this meeting, Woodruff stood in the back of a wagon and told church members, “God would bless and multiply this land.” Church members now refer to his remarks as the Wagon Box prophecy, which was discussed in a recent episode of “It’s Worth Mentioning” in the video above.
St. Anthony, founded by Carlos H. Moon in 1890, according to the Greater St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce, once lived near St. Anthony Falls in Minnesota and eventually decided to name the town after the famous landmark. In the early days, the area was commonly called “Moon Corner” after its founder.
Although Presbyterians and Methodists had the first churches in St. Anthony, the Latter-day Saints eventually arrived. The Chamber’s website says they “started their organization in a small log building on Main Street with William Carbine as the first bishop. Shortly after, they built a small church on the south side, west of where Gary’s Auto Body is today.”
The Yellowstone LDS Stake was organized in 1909. The first stake conference was held the following year. The first Mormon pioneer celebration in St. Anthony was introduced on July 24, 1910, according to the Chamber.
Since 1929, the cities of Rexburg and St. Anthony have supported each other in hosting Independence Day and Pioneer Day celebrations.
“Leaders from St. Anthony and Rexburg … decided that Rexburg would host the Fourth of July celebration and St. Anthony would celebrate and host the Pioneer Day celebration on July 24th. The two communities have traditionally supported each other in these events,” a history on the Fremont County Pioneer Days website says. “From the beginning, efforts were made to involve all faiths and groups in the community.”
‘A great opportunity to gather’
Although Pioneer Days was originally organized by LDS Church members and the St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce, it’s organized today by a group of citizens called Pioneer Days Incorporated. It includes a board of directors composed of community leaders and an organizing committee whose members oversee each individual event.
The parade and rodeo are staples of the celebration, and organizers call the parade one of the best in Idaho.
The 2026 celebration is sure to be one of the largest attended to date, and the public is invited to be part of it.
“It is a great opportunity for many who have left the community to return and gather and meet with old friends,” the website says.
Tickets for the musical production are available here. Seating is very limited so having a ticket does not guarantee admission.
Click here to register for the fun run. Rodeo tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 7 to 17. They can be purchased at the gate or at various local businesses, including Chandler Agency, Dusty’s Pitstop, Les Schwab, Instagear Rentals, Saint Anthony Point S, and Stronks & Sons in Ashton.
Additional information is available here.
