Prairie Adventure: The Wilder Pageant at Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove had lots to offer the Laura Ingalls fan.
I’ve already told you about the museum and the sweet campground and the Laura Look Alike contest and, of course, one of my personal favorite stops – Plum Creek.
But what I did not tell you about yet was the summer’s big evening event – The Wilder Pageant.
The pageant is performed only six times every summer and the tickets for next year’s pageant nights will already be on sale this fall. It’s performed every weekend in July except the July Fourth weekend.
The performance doesn’t begin until 9 p.m. to accommodate the sun being allowed to set – but 9 p.m. is a little late for young kids. On our very first edition of this trip, when London and Mosely and Bergen were but wee babes, we chose to leave the littles at home with a kind Kevin while Mom, Dad and Riley and I attended the show.
This year it was no big deal to stay up past bedtime for such a special treat.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as the kids gathered by the tent and announced that they were ready to depart. We had four fishing derby kids and one little Laura Look Alike.
The pageant grounds were just a fourth mile or so from our campsite. We pulled up in a field that probably stands empty most of the year but served as a perfect parking lot for the evening. I think we parked our ride on Laura Lane but it could have been Carrie’s Lane.
We had great seats – just about three rows from the front. There were gobs of people attending and you could choose to reserve a metal folding chair or you could purchase general admission tickets for a lower rate and bring your own blanket and sit on the hill.
Mosely even brought her prairie doll along for the show – fitted out in her new tiny glasses.
While we were waiting we were entertained by a group of local singers.
Refreshments were available but we had recently snacked at the campsite and Otto had brought along some leftover dinner as well. (Actually, that evening we had joined local townspeople at a community supper hosted by a church I think – you know – the type of church supper where your beverage choices are lemonade or tea and the homemade desserts line the table and you know you’ll be consuming some sort of baked bean or BBQ. Which we did. And it was great!)
The entire set is outdoors of course and the scene in front of us was Laura’s Walnut Grove. Her little Plum Creek dug out was off to one side and on the other side was the Mercantile owned by the Oleson’s.
It’s not every theatre performance that can boast live horses pulling a wagon across the stage.
The live animals – including a wily little calf – were all it took to engage the kids in the production right from the start.
The narrator who portrayed Laura as an adult did a fantastic job of taking the audience through Laura’s history – specifically at Walnut Grove.
The actors were almost all local and nearby residents and you guys – I have to say – their love of the story they were telling added such regional charm to this entire production.
The set was really fantastic and designed so cleverly. The stage crew did marvelous work seamlessly moving from giant set to giant set.
At one point there was a fire that had to be contained where Ma and the girls were forced to fight it off themselves –
and a church building was erected before our eyes.
After the performance the audience was invited to meet the actors on set and Piper was intent on getting a few autographs.
She found the actress who played Mary (and also Mosely’s acting partner in the Laura Look Alike contest.)
It’s an outdoor drama, of course. It’s not Broadway and I don’t even know if any of the actors turn a profit from their performances. But it is a must-see stop on a tour of the Laura Ingalls sites.
The word I like best to describe the entire performance was – endearing. Seeing modern day Walnut Grove residents act out scenes from their town’s most famous pioneer family’s life was lovely. Seeing it all performed under the Minnesota sky in a field near Plum Creek and the town of Walnut Grove itself was enchanting.
And hey, if you go, promise me you’ll tell me about it!
11 Comments
royce lavoie
i am also a volunteer for the pageant, specifically the sets. i have been doing this for about six years now and even though i am not out front with the actors/actresses, i still enjoy hearing such good things about the show. as a set crew member we strive to make the audience feel like they are apart of the show. whenever you can make it again, have your kids come down to the front for “show grasshoppers” during intermission.
laceykeigley
Well – you did a fabulous job on the sets – that is certainly no small task!
laceykeigley
Oh – and we did go down to the front during intermission for the “show grasshoppers”. All of the kids were very amused except our youngest son – an avid grasshopper fanatic who was truly hoping for a take-home pet. 🙂
Mary
Great write up. It is local talent. I was in the show years ago and now my brother, niece, and nephew are in it. My niece was Mary. That’s a great picture you have posted. 🙂
laceykeigley
Oh – your niece was Mary — how wonderful! My Piper loved getting to meet her and get her autograph. She was in her first big play here this year and so now she feels quite akin to other actresses on stage! 🙂
Your niece also worked with my daughter at the Laura Look Alike contest – we visited on the 19th of July – I know she met so many little Lauras that day!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Nancy Weinzetl
I second what Daryl said! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed yourselves. I’ve been on both sides of the stage now, and it was so much fun to work and play with all these great people…and hope that I could help entertain folks as much as I was when I was watching it myself.
laceykeigley
Oh I am sure you will! And do! 🙂
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment!
Julie Danielowski
I just saw this shared on Facebook through my fellow actors (pageant family) and oh how I enjoyed reading this. It literally brought tears to my eyes, yes I am a bit more tender than the rude Mrs. Oleson i portrayed this year.=) You put this into such perfect words I couldn’t tell about it better myself even after my years of watching from the audience or 5 years on the stage. It means more to us than we can express that it felt the way it did to you and your family. We really do love this story and we count the months weeks and days every year til it comes back around! It is also a family tradition for my daughter and me. Thank you again for your story! And i’m so glad you enjoyed it and hope you will come again! What a treat!
laceykeigley
Mrs. Oleson!
I’m telling you what – you guys are just making my day over here in South Carolina!
I think it would be both fun and difficult to play a character everyone loves to dislike! 🙂
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! We would love to return – this was our second time and we have been sharing about it with so many friends!
Daryl Hrdlicka
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! We’re all volunteer actors from the local area. It’s a family tradition for us as well — my older daughters were in it for 8 and 9 years, this was my 9th year, and my sons have been in it for 4 and 2 years. I was Doc Hoyt this year, who failed miserably at curing Mary.
laceykeigley
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the review and to comment!
What a treat!
I’ll have to tell the kids! 🙂
You did a wonderful job and I just love the fact that it’s a family tradition – that makes it so much more special!