Once a year, the small town western feel of this southwestern town gets a boost from the Dixie Roundup Parade, rodeo and other events.
This year, the Dixie Roundup Rodeo and Parade showcased a wide range of entries and served as part of the overall Dixie Roundup fun.
Dixie Roundup | a bit of history
Since 1935 the Dixie Roundup has been part of the St. George landscape. It was started as a joint effort between the local American Legion an the Lions Club, according to the Washington County Historical Society web site. Before that time, there were certainly other rodeos, taking place on the town square south of the Tabernacle and Woodward School. Back then there were no fences, so they used wagons and cars to mark off the area.
Things have changed over the years though.
In 1939 the Lions Club became the sole sponsor of the Dixie Roundup Parade and rodeo.
Thirteen years after the first Dixie Roundup Parade and Rodeo began, the event took place in the Dixie Sunbowl and it has been in the Sunbowl ever since. Currently, and historically, the Dixie Roundup Parade and rodeo takes place the second week of September.
The Dixie Roundup parade has been part of the Dixie Roundup since the 1940s, though some aspects have changed over time. For example, one long-time member of the
Dixie Roundup Parade
For years the Dixie Roundup Parade took place in the evening, leading into the Saturday evening rodeo. However, three years ago event planners decided to stray from that particular tradition. The Dixie Roundup Parade was moved to Saturday morning in the hopes that parade-goers wouldn’t have to endure the late afternoon heat. Plus, it gives rodeo organizers more time to prepare for the main event.
This year’s Dixie Roundup Parade made its way down Tabernacle Street from west to east. It featured entries from area high school and middle school marching bands, local businesses, royalty groups, dance performers and more.
A local tradition
Several years ago there was talk of dismantling the Sunbowl (the arena where the Dixie Roundup Parade Rodeo typically takes place). But an outcry from longtime residents brought those plans to a standstill. The main argument for keeping the outdoor amphitheater in the center of town: The Dixie Roundup Parade and Rodeo.
According to a 2015 article in St. George News, Lions Club member Joe Bowcutt explained why it mattered so much.
“The tradition (for the Dixie Roundup Parade and Rodeo) is huge. We have people that paln their family reunions around the Roundup,” Bowcutt said. “They’ll come and they’ll buy a few thousand dollars worth of tickets so their family can all sit together. Ti’s just become such a tradition for families.”
One of those traditions used to be a daily Roundup Parade. This was mainly used as a way to draw a crowd down to the rodeo grounds.
Jerry Parker, a longtime Lions member was quoted in the same St. George News article saying, “Thursday night was the beauty parade and there were girls in bathing suits in trucks and in convertibles.”
Friday night was the children’s parade.
So clearly some things have changed. The Saturday Dixie Roundup Parade remains, though at a new time.
Highlights from 2018 parade
* Rock crawling cars climbing all over each other
* Santa Clara royalty float
* All the area marching bands
* Staheli Farm barrel train
* Horseback riding tricks
* The Cinderella coach from Tuacahn
* Oversize piggy bank float
* Fiesta Fun bumper cars with “Toy Story” characters
* Ninja Warriors performing tricks on the float
* loads of candy
* Only one fire truck at the end — with the siren at a reasonable volume
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