Pioneer Day is a unique holiday celebrated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It honors the early Saints and their courageous trek to the Salt Lake Valley in search of religious freedom. No matter your lineage or where you live, these five simple Pioneer Day activities can help you and your family feel the spirit of faith and sacrifice that defines this season.
1. Watch a Pioneer Day Themed Movie
Multiple movies are available for free online, including:
You can also check your favorite streaming apps to see what’s available.
2. Make Butter in a Mason Jar
This hands-on activity offers a fun (and delicious) glimpse into pioneer life. All you need is heavy cream and a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. Pour the cream in, seal the lid, and shake until the cream transforms into butter. It’s a great reminder of the work and determination of early Latter-day Saints. Here are the full instructions.
Once you’ve made your butter, try it on fresh homemade bread, crackers, or cornbread. You can even set up a small “pioneer picnic” and eat outside as a family, reflecting on how the early Saints relied on simple but sustaining meals to keep going.
3. Play Stick Pull
Stick pull was a favorite game in the time of Joseph Smith—and he was known to be quite good at it! To play:
- Have two people sit on the floor, soles of their feet touching and knees bent.
- One player places their hands in the center of a smooth stick.
- The other places their hands outside the first person’s.
- Without twisting, jerking, or re-gripping, each player tries to pull the other off the ground or pull the stick away.
Use a sanded dowel or a smooth broom handle for the best experience. Here’s a great article about stick pull and Joseph Smith’s skills in the activity.
4. Learn About an Ancestor
Even if your ancestors didn’t cross the plains, they are pioneers in their own way. Choose one ancestor to learn about as a family. Print their picture, research their life, and explore the time period they lived in. It’s a powerful way to connect with your heritage.
If you have access to FamilySearch, try using the “Compare-a-Face” or “Where Am I From?” activities to get even more insights into your family story. Create a little “pioneer wall” in your home with photos, timelines, or quotes from your ancestors to inspire your family all month long.
5. Download a Pioneer Day Coloring Page
Keep little hands busy with this free Pioneer Day coloring page—perfect for children, Church activities, or ministering visits. Download it here.
6. Sing Pioneer Songs Together
Music was a source of strength and joy for the early Saints. Sing pioneer-era hymns or create a playlist of performances by the Tabernacle Choir and other musicians to listen to. You can even learn a lesser-known pioneer song together. Create a family sing-along or have the children perform a simple musical number for extended family or friends.
Here are some of our favorite hymns and songs that capture the pioneer spirit, including some new additions recently added to Hymns—For Home and Church:
- Come, Come, Ye Saints
- They, the Builders of the Nation
- For All the Saints
- Faith in Every Footstep
- Press Forward, Saints
- Carry On
- Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel
- I’m a Pioneer Too
- Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked
- To Be a Pioneer
- The Handcart Song
- Whenever I Think about Pioneers
Check out this YouTube playlist of Pioneer Day concerts by the Tabernacle Choir over the years.
7. Take a Nature Walk and Tell Pioneer Stories
Go on a walk or short hike to reflect on the journey the pioneers took. Bring along a few pioneer stories—either from your own family or Church history—and share them as you go. You can tie the experience to faith, sacrifice, and moving forward in the face of difficulty.
8. Do a Pioneer Service Challenge
Pioneers were known for pulling together in times of hardship. Choose a simple act of service to do as a family—mow someone’s lawn, bake bread for a neighbor, or write thank-you notes to someone who’s strengthened your faith. You could even invite your children to “earn” a badge or token for every act of service they complete that week.
If you are unable to participate in more active service efforts, remembering the unity and spirit of giving the pioneers stood for can be as simple as inviting someone to join your celebrations. Be mindful of and include those in your community who may live alone or be far from family.
Pioneer Day is more than a celebration of history—it’s an invitation to strengthen our faith, remember the sacrifices of those who came before, and carry their legacy forward in our own lives. Whether you sing a hymn, learn about your ancestors, or serve someone in need, these simple activities can help you and your family feel connected to the spirit of the pioneers. Their journey of faith continues in us today, one step, one act, one testimony at a time.
What are your Pioneer Day traditions? Share with us in the comments!
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
