If you are new to the area, and have wondered what are some of the things that make us unique, it would be easy to point to our adjacency to some of the most visited and beautiful national parks in the country. Just as easy to tout the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, which just wrapped up another highly successful season. Of course, I could also point to Southern Utah University celebrating the largest enrollment ever and seeing a student population doubling over the last decade. All truly great distinctive landmarks and institutions of our community.

But, if you are looking for something that really stands out, and is particular to the region, be on Main Street in Cedar City this Saturday for the...Sheep Parade. Officially, it is an event of the weekend long Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival. If you haven't seen it, it really is something to see.

Cedar Livestock and Heritage Frestival
Cedar Livestock and Heritage Frestival
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Donna Christensen, who has been involved with the festival for many years was on the radio with us and told us of the growth of the festival. “It's grown tremendously. This is our 19th year started out with the parade to honor the the livestock trail that comes down Cedar Mountain,” Christensen said.

Festival activities start on Friday, with most being at the Cross Hollow Events Center and the Iron Rangers and Diamond Z Arenas. But the first activity of the festival will be at the Heritage Center in downtown Cedar City for the Cedar Chest Quilters Quilt Show starting at 10AM on Friday.

Activities on Friday at the Cross Hollow Events Center start at Noon with the Antique Tractor Pull. Friday activities will go until 7:00PM or the end of the Junior Ranch Rodeo, which ever is later.

Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
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Then on Saturday activities get started with the Sheep Parade. Nearly a thousand of sheep, coming off the summer grazing sights on Cedar Mountain, will make their way through town, down Main Street to winter grazing locations. And it's more than just sheep. You'll see sheep wagons, where shepherds sheltered while they were with the flocks on the mountain. You'll see horses, youth groups, stock dogs, longhorn cattle, antique tractors and more. It is truly a wonder to see.

Christensen gave us a little history of the parade. “It's to honor all of the livestock in Iron County. It got started because of the sheep trail that comes down off of Cedar Mountain (to the) Providence Center, where Walmart is now. That kind of cut it off right there. And so that's when we decided to get it started, is to kind of kind of preserve and honor, you know, the livestock people at that time.” Christensen also asked people coming to the parade to please leave their dogs at home, and to keep to the sides of the street.

Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
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The Grand Marshall for the parade this year is Scott Stubbs. Stubbs is a 5th generation sheep herder. From an early age, Scott threw himself into the family’s sheep operation, learning the ropes from his father and grandfather. He now runs close to 3,000 ewes using mostly USFS and BLM allotments that his father and grandfather owned before him. Scott was able to buy 60 acres of the family farm in 2005 after his father retired. Later, in 2017, he was able to buy 120 acres that had originally been his grandfather’s land. He raises alfalfa and grain to feed the sheep during the winter months. You can find out more about Mr. Stubbs here.

The parade starts at 10am and will proceed north on Main Street starting at 200 South. But while the parade is considered the highlight of the festival there is so much more.

While the sheep will continue up Main Street out to grazing areas in the Enoch vicinity, most of the other parade participants will head west to the Cross Hollows Event Center for a full day of activity. The Livestock Festival will run all day Saturday starting at 11. It features vendors, cowboy poetry, demonstrations and pioneer activities.

There will be a Vintage Auto Display from noon to 5pm, with automobiles from 1950 and earlier.

Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
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Dutch oven cooks will conjure up some tantalizing servings of their favorite recipes on a Dutch Oven Cook Off. And you can enjoy the dishes they create by getting to the tasting opportunity that starts at 12:45. You'll need tickets for that, and the tickets go on sale at 11:15am.

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The Dennis Stowell Memorial Ranch Rodeo starts at noon, and has teams competing in authentic ranch skills such as branding, trailor loading, sorting and more. Get a complete schedule for the activities on Friday and Saturday here.

Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival
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But, for the big event, join us on Main Street at 10am Saturday morning. Even though the forecast is predicting a warmer afternoon for Saturday, that time of the day will still be on the chilly side, so dress appropriately. Oh, and do your shoes and vehicles a favor. You might not want to walk or drive down Main Street until after the clean up crews get things tidied up.

Listen to our podcast with Christensen and Ben Batty below.

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Gallery Credit: Dr. T

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