Utah, known as The Beehive State, was given its nickname by the Mormon settlers who saw themselves as hardworking and industrious as bees in a hive. Bees spend their whole lives working together for the survival of the community. And hidden under the bustling colony of bees is a treasure of honey. But what do bees have to do with Pioneers and Pie and Beer?

In 1847, leader of the covered wagon journeyers, Brigham Young, stopped at the mouth of what is now known as Emigration Canyon. He may or may not have said these exact words, “This is the place”, but on July 24th, the caravan stopped here.

How it Started

Pioneer Day celebrations began two years later with musical performances, reenactments, speeches and feasts. This year you can find Days of ‘47 royalty leading the 24th of July parade through downtown SLC, rodeos, pioneer activities for the kids, a Native American celebration in the Park, a marathon, and drone shows. 

Greg James, executive vice president of the Days of ‘47 said, “The focus of the parade and Days of ‘47 is to celebrate pioneer spirit and values of pioneering, past and present; values such as hard work and vision.”

Musician and songwriter Clive Romney was “seduced by Utah pioneer stories.” But for him it’s not about the time frame or the religion. “It’s the experience,” he said. “People are pioneers of their family — doing what is impossible because you don’t have enough resources. You find a way to do the impossible; less for yourself than those who come after you.”  

Through his music and storytelling, Romney has had many audience members come to him with tears in their eyes. “It gives them a sense of belonging, community and family,” Romney said. “They feel like they know the people.”

Pie and Beer Origins

On the flip side, ‘Bad’ Brad Wheeler, founder of Official Pie and Beer Day at downtown Salt Lake’s Beer Bar, was introduced to the underground tradition of “Pie and Beer Day” in 1980 when he moved to Utah from Hawaii. His neighbors used it as an alternative gathering for those who didn’t quite fit in with Pioneer Day celebrations. He may not be the first to use the idea, but he’s pretty sure he’s “the first to bring it out of the darkness.”

Since 2014 (minus two years during the pandemic) Beer Bar has hosted the Pie and Beer event with 24 breweries and 24 bakers. 

Your own gut reaction to the combo might be disgust. Wheeler says that there really isn’t a better combo. “Utah has … some amazing bakers. The dominant population is really good at pastries and sweets. You can have a bad day, and it changes your attitude to have a nice piece of pie.”

Pies range from frito crust filled with chili, pocket pies, shoofly pie, chicken feet pie, key lime, and Carluchi’s lemon shaker pie. And you can pair each slice with 24 different kinds of beer.

“People come to just watch,” Wheeler said. “Some get a slice or two and leave the beer on the table. Some share between groups so they can try everything.” In the end, pie and beer is another excuse for people to gather and have a good time. 

“There’s something about it; it’s for anyone who has sat alone on the 24th,” Wheeler said. “There are other things worth celebrating in Utah.”

While it may seem like the antithesis of the Mormon centered celebrations of the pioneers who arrived here in 1847, perhaps it’s just a different way to celebrate the people of Utah. 

The state is full of homegrown beer breweries and pubs . Utah has many bakeries that have been around for decades and some have spread across the country, from Mrs. Bakers Bakery, established in 1941, to Crumbl, which started in Logan in 2017.

Celebrations

This is the Place State Park hosts a big 24th of July party every year, and even though the park centers on pioneer roots, many of the monuments are dedicated by and to all the people who gathered in the valley to help it grow.

Tresha Kramer, Public Relations & Customer Relations Director, said there are pioneer related activities, but also some modern ones. 

“It’s a celebration where people gather to be with each other with their families around fun events,” Kramer said. “It exemplifies what Pioneer Day means: getting together with the people you love and having a lot of fun. At the park we gear it towards the public having a good time with a little history.”

Some people bring together both old and new traditions. Emma Petersen, a mother of two and life-long resident of Utah said, “On Pioneer Day we do the parade or fireworks. For Pie and Beer day we get all different kinds of non-alcoholic beer (apple beer, rootbeer, ginger beer, butterbeer) and make different pies.”

Perhaps these seemingly opposing celebrations are just different ways for people to get together with people they love and enjoy. Sweet things like honey, beer and pie are the results of industry, resourcefulness and vision. The goal of the people, and the bees, is to create community and joy.

(Did you know that bees still get drunk sometimes? Read more here!)

Feature Image: Children at This is the Place State Park learning how some pioneers traveled with handcarts. Photo courtesy of This is the Place State Park.