Dixie Roundup Parade trots crowded Tabernacle Street; video, photo gallery

Written by Joseph Witham
September 17, 2016

ST. GEORGE — A parade celebrating the 82nd annual Dixie Roundup Rodeo featured all the glamour of its storied past as it made its way along a six-block route.

Dixie Roundup Queen McKayla Jimmerson and Princess Ashton Anderson ride horseback along the parade route, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
L-R: Dixie Roundup Queen McKayla Jimmerson and Princess Ashton Anderson ride horseback along the parade route, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Sitting in the shade was optional as the parade’s Saturday morning start time made for a cool beginning to the annual tradition with families lining both sides of Tabernacle Street to get a front-row seat.

The parade, themed “Kickin’ the Dust Up at the 82nd annual Dixie Roundup Rodeo” this year, is an annual production of the St. George Lions Club.

Queens and princesses from around Southern Utah dotted the parade with their best parade-waves. The Roundup’s own Queen McKayla Jimmerson and Princess Ashton Anderson led the procession of royalty on horseback.

St. George Mayor Jon Pike threw candy to paradegoers as he rode along in the city’s classic red fire engine.

St. George Mayor Jon Pike throws candy to parade-goers in the Dixie Roundup Rodeo Parade, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
St. George Mayor Jon Pike throws candy to paradegoers in the Dixie Roundup Rodeo Parade, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Other political appearances included recently appointed interim state Sen. Don Ispon; state House Rep. Jon Stanard; as well as an entourage representing U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Chris Stewart. State Senate candidate Dorothy Engleman walked along the route with literal puppy-dog representatives in tow.

Marching bands from local schools played triumphantly in proud procession along the parade route. Schools included Pine View Middle School, Desert Hills Middle School, Desert Hills High School, Dixie Middle School and Dixie High School.

A troop of National Guardsmen stopped frequently along the route to honor the American flag, inviting parade-goers to salute and pledge accordingly.

Kids run for candy thrown from a float at the Dixie Roundup Rodeo Parade, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News
Kids run for candy thrown from a float at the Dixie Roundup Rodeo Parade, St. George, Utah, Sept. 17, 2016 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Children played heavily in the parade, whether they marched with the procession or watched from the sidelines, collecting candy thrown from floats.

Jerry Parker, long-time Lions Club member and past president and chairman, was instrumental in this year’s parade organization.

Over 100 entries and bands featuring dozens of kids have to be organized with the right timing, Parker said.

“That many people in one place at the right time, it’s a challenge,” Parker said. “Line members stage it all and do it all, and it comes off as the biggest parade in the county every year.”

The parade is held in conjunction with the Dixie Roundup Rodeo, a three-day event held in the historic Dixie Sunbowl culminating with the last night of rodeo Saturday evening.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Event details

  • What: 82nd St. George Lions Dixie Roundup Rodeo.
  • When: Rodeo continues Saturday night; gates open at 6 p.m.
  • Where: Historic Dixie Sunbowl, 150 S. 400 East, St. George
  • Cost: Reserved seats, $15; adult general admission, $10; children (3-11), $5; children (2 and under on laps), free.
  • Purchase tickets: General admission tickets can be purchased the night of the rodeo. Gates open and ticket sales begin at 6 p.m.
  • Rodeo information: 435-703-4779 | Website

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joseph Witham is a passionate journalist who has written, reported and edited for various publications since 2001. He is a Utah Valley University graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication. He loves Southern Utah's outdoors and hikes often in the region's red-rock canyons.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JosephWitham@STGnews

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3 Comments

  • RealMcCoy September 17, 2016 at 4:02 pm

    We went to this today. It was a good parade, and it was a lot of fun!

    Also want to add a shout out to all the parent failures out there!
    Good job letting your 12 year olds trample the 2-3 year olds in their quest for the candy thrown from the floats. I saw a kid about 13 that knocked down a 4 year old and grabbed the candy from his hand.
    Some kids stood so far into the street waiting for the candy to come that the paraders had to bunch towards the center to avoid trampling them.
    It’s a shame there isn’t a candy-tossing float armed with a slingshot to nail the little brats that have no respect.

  • .... September 18, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    Well it won’t be like that next year because they are going to throw vegetables

    • RealMcCoy September 20, 2016 at 10:30 am

      Funny you say that. In the Peach Days parade someone threw broccoli.
      They were not a popular float.

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