Stirling Settler Days
Encyclopedia
Stirling Settler Days is a celebration held every year on July 24 in Stirling
, Alberta
, Canada
.
Stirling Settler Days is celebrated to mark the Mormon pioneer
s' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley
on July 24, 1847. Since Stirling's founding in 1899, Stirling has celebrated the day as "Pioneer Day
", now called Stirling Settler Days.
To start off the celebrations, a band would set up on a flat rack riding about the town playing music, soon to follow was a parade
, the parades were stupendous with marching bands, colorful floats, and many fine horses. After the parade many people gathered at the "Meeting House
" for a program, full of fun and enjoyment with musical numbers, readings and then an oration suitable for the occasion.
In the afternoon there were many games and races, like a greased pig race or chicken race, old men races, and even a horse pulling race. To end the celebration, a dance was held in the evening.
On July 24, 1931, Stirling held its first Stampede
. Stirling continues these traditions, as well as some new ones, like a pancake
breakfast, firefighter
games, a parade, movie in the park, community dance, a rodeo, and fireworks
.
The Stirling fireworks display is known as the “Best Little Fireworks” in southern Alberta.
Stirling, Alberta
Stirling is a village in the County of Warner No. 5, Alberta, Canada. The village is located on Highway 4, approximately southeast of Lethbridge and northwest of the United States-Canada border....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Stirling Settler Days is celebrated to mark the Mormon pioneer
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
s' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
on July 24, 1847. Since Stirling's founding in 1899, Stirling has celebrated the day as "Pioneer Day
Pioneer Day
Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers...
", now called Stirling Settler Days.
To start off the celebrations, a band would set up on a flat rack riding about the town playing music, soon to follow was a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, the parades were stupendous with marching bands, colorful floats, and many fine horses. After the parade many people gathered at the "Meeting House
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
" for a program, full of fun and enjoyment with musical numbers, readings and then an oration suitable for the occasion.
On July 24, 1931, Stirling held its first Stampede
Stampede
A stampede is an act of mass impulse among herd animals or a crowd of people in which the herd collectively begins running with no clear direction or purpose....
. Stirling continues these traditions, as well as some new ones, like a pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
breakfast, firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
games, a parade, movie in the park, community dance, a rodeo, and fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
.
The Stirling fireworks display is known as the “Best Little Fireworks” in southern Alberta.
See also
- Festivals in Alberta
- List of attractions and landmarks in Stirling, Alberta
- Pioneer Day (Utah)
- Theodore Brandley