In parched Arizona, rain is welcome no matter when it comes. This being monsoon season, it was no surprise that it rained the last two times Safford hosted the annual Pioneer Days parade and festivities.

Hundreds of people reveled in the stormy weather during the celebration held Saturday. The event honors pioneers who settled the southwest and, in the Gila Valley, host duties are rotated among Safford, Thatcher and Pima. Last year, Pima hosted the event, and it will be Thatcher's turn next year.

Event-goers lined the streets of Safford as the floats paraded from Ruth Powell Elementary School to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' meeting house on 20th Street.

Members of The Church of the Latter-day Saints celebrate Pioneer Days by dressing in traditional pioneer garb and traveling in a horse and buggy. Photo by Jon Johnson

The theme of this year's parade was what the participants were thankful for, and several floats were aptly designed with signs saying they were thankful for the rain.

After braving the stormy weather, parade participants and viewers made their way across the saturated baseball fields at the Safford Stake Center to its parking lot.

There, they discovered a plethora of food booths selling hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue dinners and barbecue rib dinners, to name a few. The food sales are generally the main source of income for the cost of the next year's event.

The rain began to let up, and the evening's festivities continued with a variety of music provided by Gary Gardner and his sound system.

Live performances were also given by former Mayor Ron Green's band, the Tri-Stake Temple Choir, Matt Shelton and Mistie Barfus, who sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," and Scott Goodwin, who sang the national anthem during a flag ceremony.

The night was emceed by Craig Smith, who dressed in timely pioneer garb.

Smith said he believed the event was a success and that it brought together the people of Safford, Thatcher, Pima and the county.

The celebration culminated with a booming fireworks show that awed the crowd at the Stake Center as well as numerous others who were watching with family from their private yards.