Oh Sheep! – Celebrating the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival

We know it sounds a little crazy, but every year Cedar City’s main street gets a little… wild, as hundreds of sheep strut their stuff right through the center of town! And while it might sound like small-town Utah shenanigans, the sheep parade is an important opener to the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival.

 

 

This event celebrates the agricultural roots of the area with tractor pulls, a rodeo, and a parade as the sheep take the easiest path to their winter homes. The event takes place on October 23rd and 24th with the Sheep Parade starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 23rd. Beyond the parade and events that follow, here are a few of our favorite places to visit and ways to celebrate the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival this weekend.

 

 

Use the itinerary below as a guide while planning your weekend getaway to Cedar City.

 

 

DAY ONE

 

 

Morning| Start your weekend with a dive into Cedar City’s agricultural past. For the original settlers of Cedar City and many current residents, farming is a way of life. These local farms take their own approach to farming and add in a lot of fun! Start the morning with the self-guided farm tour at Nature Hills Farm and check out the scarecrows and goods available in the Farm Stand at Red Acre Farm.

 

Afternoon | Take in the history of Cedar City with a visit to the Frontier Homestead State Park! This hands-on history museum tells the story of Cedar City through interactive exhibits and storytelling. The Frontier Homestead State Park is open Monday – Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and admission is $4 per person.

 

 

 

 

Evening | Check-in at the Iron Springs Resort for a stay that puts you on the edge of Cedar City, but close to adventure. With OHV trails, horseback riding, and more, it’s a great way to experience Cedar City!

 

 

Dinner| A bonus of staying at Iron Springs Resort? The nearby dinner option is great! Grab a bite at Bowman’s Cowboy Kitchen for some incredible home-town cooking.

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO

 

 

Breakfast | On your way into Cedar City for the Sheep Parade take a little detour on Cross Hollow Road (this will take you past the arena where the afternoon events will be) to grab coffee and breakfast at Silver Silo Bakery & Espresso! This new addition to Cedar City has fresh-baked goods and incredible drinks ready to go with a smile.

 

 

Morning | Oh sheep! Head to downtown Cedar City for a one-of-a-kind parade that’s sure to leave you smiling. The Sheep Parade is the highlight event of the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival. 500 sheep will be herded from Cedar Mountain pastures down Cedar City’s Main Street, providing an exciting glimpse of the Old West and its livestock heritage.

 

 

 

 

Early Afternoon | Head on out to the Diamond Z arena for the rest of the Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival events. These include a rodeo, tractor show, vintage car display, and more! These events tell the inspiring history of Iron County that’s worth celebrating. Fall is a very special time of the year, for it means the harvesting of crops and the trailing of livestock from the high mountain ranges to the desert for winter.

 

 

Late Afternoon | Time to follow the sheep! Part of their journey in transitioning from their summer home in the higher elevations to their winter home in the valley. As the sheep wind down the face of Cedar Mountain, they follow a livestock trail near the Highlands Trail. This trail is 1.6 miles and a steady climb. The Highlands Trail is a multi-use trail frequented by mountain bikers as they connect from the C-Trail to the Greens Lake Trail, so be aware of your surroundings.

 

 

 

 

Evening | Visit the historic Cedar Sheep Association building on Main Street, now Bulloch Drug. This building is now home to a connected series of adorable boutiques, a vintage soda fountain and candy bar, and hand-scooped ice cream.

 

Dinner | Stop for steak, seafood, and drinks with dinner at Milt’s Stage Stop. A Southern Utah historical dining experience, Milt’s has been serving visitors the best in steaks, prime rib, and more since 1956. With a rustic log, cabin atmosphere tucked away in incredible mountain scenery, it’s the perfect place to end the day.

 

 

 

 

Cover Image: The Cedar Livestock & Heritage Festival, October 23rd, and 24th, 2020. 

Learn more and book your stay using the links included here.