It's probably safe to say that nobody in Utah Valley will observe the 24th of July by going to the jungle to hunt tigers in a vintage British automobile. You might, however, see the car fomerly owned by an early 20th-century maharajah who did just that. A Rolls-Royce model 40/50, part of the series informally nicknamed Silver Ghost, will be at North Park in Provo during the city's annual Pioneer Day Extravaganza! celebration, as part of antique car show.

Many in Utah will have the day off from work as Beehive Staters commemorate the arrival, at the valley of the Great Salt Lake, in 1847, of Latter-day Saint colonizer Brigham Young. Young was the immediate successor to Joseph Smith, founder and first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and led the majority of Latter-day Saints west after the death of their charismatic frontier prophet, to a region that was actually governed by Mexico until nearly seven months after the settlers' arrival.

(All of the land in the present-day state of Utah, as well as California, Nevada, much of Arizona and portions of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed Feb. 2, 1848, that concluded the Mexican-American War.)

Provo's Pioneer Day Extravaganza!, including its rare auto, owned by Orem resident Karl Furr, is one of a number of events held across the state that honor the resilient spirit and determination of Young and his followers. "I think it's important to recognize the people who founded this state," said Provo recreation supervisor JaNel Grim. "We have a safe, fun environment where people can have a good time and learn a little bit about Utah."

The "Utah History Encyclopedia" records that the first observance of Pioneer Day occurred in 1849. Young led a procession from his home to the site chosen for construction of the Salt Lake Temple, where the members of nearly 20 local LDS congregations held a devotional service "full of both religious reverence and zeal," followed by a feast of thanksgiving.

Some of that same religious reverence is alive today in observances like the Mormon Handcart Pageant -- held in Nephi during the week of Pioneer Day -- which commemorates the Utah settlers who arrived several years after the exodus led by Young. The Handcart Pageant, now in its seventh year, is a dramatic reenactment of the tragedy of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies, groups of Utah-bound pioneers decimated in the wilds of Wyoming by ferocious winter weather.

Pageant associate director Dixie Boswell said that she visited, with family members, the sites where the Willie and Martin survivors waited to be rescued and was moved by the experience. "We loved the spirit there and our goal was to bring the spirit of the trail closer to home where more people could enjoy it," Boswell said.

Just as the early pioneers were noted for the vigor of their celebrations, however, Pioneer Day today is also an excellent opportunity to use up all of the watermelon and fireworks left over from Independence Day. It's a day for people to enjoy parades, participate in contests and races, visit museums and, yes, maybe even inspect a vintage car or two.

A retired machinist, Furr, 77, purchased his historic Rolls for $75,000. At the time, he said, the car "was a wreck; it hadn't run in 50 years." He has a photo of the car taken with its original owner, however, and has done a great deal of work to restore it.

It's a little like what the early Latter-day Saints did with the remote and wild Utah Territory, actually. They took charge of a situation that presented some challenges and figured out how to increase its beauty and productivity.

• Cody Clark can be reached at 344-2542 or cclark@heraldextra.com.

SEVEN WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR PIONEER DAY

If you're bored on the day that commemorates the historic arrival of the Mormon pioneers, then you have only yourself to blame. There's not a celebration in every city, per se, but local church and civic groups will have many small activities planned, and there are plenty of other things to see and do.

To help make you aware of some of the possibilities, we've compiled a short list of things you could do with your time on the Other Big Holiday in July:

Pioneer Day Extravaganza!

Where: North Park, 500 N. 500 West, Provo

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday

Cost: Free

What's Going On: A couple of thousand people are expected to converge on North Park in Provo, where the festivities will begin with a flag ceremony. There will be a mountain man encampment, where visitors can toss a tomahawk or inspect a black-powder rifle, as well as an antique car show, games and live music. Dancers will perform at the Native American village, and there will be demonstrations (Dutch oven cooking), crafts and the chance to browse and shop at the Provo Farmer's Market.

Fiesta Days

Where: Spanish Fork

When: 6:30 a.m. until dark on Thursday

Cost: Varies by event (some events are free)

Info: spanishfork.org/newsevents/events/fiestadays/activities24.php

What's Going On: What's not going on? Fiesta Days is Spanish Fork's big weeklong celebration of summer -- Pioneer Day is just the cherry on top of the whipped cream. The first event of the day is the Speedy Spaniard 10K Road Race and Walk, which begins at 6:30 a.m. There's also a grand parade, craft fair, family carnival, outdoor quilt show, the 4th annual Adopt a Duck River Race, live music, a matinee production of "Oklahoma!" by Spanish Fork Community Theater, the 66th Annual Fiesta Days Rodeo and fireworks at the Spanish Fork Sports Park after dark.

The Mormon Handcart Pageant

Where: Juab County Fairgrounds Outdoor Arena, 350 W. Center St., Nephi

When: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for pre-pageant activities; pageant begins at dusk (approximately 9:15 p.m.)

Cost: Free

Info: www.handcartpageant.com/

What's Going On: See a live reenactment of he story of the Mormon handcart pioneers. If you want to arrive early, you can purchase a pioneer supper (catered by popular local eatery JC Mickelson's) and browse historical displays. Approximately 4,000 people are expected each night the pageant is performed (if you can't get down for Pioneer Day, there are performance Friday and Saturday as well), so you might want to show up early just to spread a blank or set out some folding chairs to reserve your spot. The pageant has live animals and a cast of about 150 actors, who range in age from infants to senior citizens.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museums

Where: Cities around Utah Valley

When: Hours of operation vary

Cost: Free admission at all Utah County locations

Info: www.dupinternational.org/

What's Going On: The Daughters of Utah Pioneers have museums across the state, of which there are no fewer than 12 in Utah County. Even if there's not one in the city where you live, odds are that you won't have to drive very far to make a visit and inspect the historical artifacts and displays. Some locations may be be closed, have limited hours, or require an appointment, though the Provo Pioneer Museum, right there at North Park, site of Provo's Pioneer Day Extraganza!, will be open throughout the Provo event.

Call the museum you'd like to visit to determine its hours of operation: Alpine Historic Pioneer Relic Hall, 756-5490; American Fork DUP Relic Hall, 785-9204; Highland DUP Museum, 756-5751; Lehi DUP Museum, 50 N. Center St. (phone service not available); Orem DUP Collection at the Heritage Museum, 225-2569; Payson South County DUP, 465-2469; Peteetneet DUP (Payson), 465-9017; Old Bell School DUP Museum and Log Cabin (Pleasant Grove), 785-2519 or 785-2619; Provo Pioneer Museum, 852-6609; Salem DUP Museum, 301 S. 300 West, Salem (phone service not available); Spanish Fork DUP Museum, 390 N. Main St. (phone service not available); Springville DUP Museum, 491-2076.

Pioneer Legacy Pageant

Where: Springville Arts Park, 620 S. 1350 East, Springville

When: 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Cost: Free

What's Going On: Local actors bring to life the story of Mormon pioneers George and Elizabeth Fox, who persist in their efforts to follow the pioneer trail to the valley of the Great Salt Lake despite trials and tragedy along the way. The pageant includes live music and dancing.

Taste of the Valley

Where: Historic Utah County Courthouse, 51 S. University Ave., Provo

When: Noon-3 p.m. on Thursday

Cost: $8/person, $30/family of four

Info: www.thechamber.org/

What's Going On: Local restaurants vie to impress visitors by forking over a mouthful of their best menu items. Spend the afternoon sampling the finest foods prepared and served every day across Utah Valley.

Days of '47

Where: Salt Lake City

When: Events all day long on Thursday; evening concert Friday and Saturday

Cost: Varies by event (some events are free)

Info: www.daysof47.com/

What's Going On: The Days of '47 is probably the biggest (and possibly the oldest) Pioneer Day celebration in Utah, and you have to get up early (or stay up late) to experience it all: the Days of '47 and Deseret Morning News/KJZZ TV Marathon begins at the stroke of midnight. There's a Sunrise Service at the LDS Tabernacle on Temple Square, followed by the Days of '47 KSL 5 Parade at 9 a.m. There's a heritage festival at This Is The Place Heritage Park during the day, and if you're feeling intrepid, then you can drive out to the Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main St. in Salt Lake City, on the night before it all begins -- tonight, actually-- for the International CultureFest.

On Friday and Saturday, the Days of '47 wraps up at the LDS Conference Center with an evening performance each day by the entire Osmond family -- including the brotherly trio of Merrill, Jay and Wayne, middle siblings Donny and Marie, and youngest "original" Osmond Jimmy -- and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There are no more free tickets available (except, perhaps, from people who already got theirs in the random ticket distribution lottery), but you can watch online via live Internet streaming at www.lds.org.

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• Anyway you slice it, watermelons are delicious