16
Shetek Area Visitors Guide
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pageant
Want to Relive the Good Old Days? “Come Home To Laura!” The popular Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant tells the story of 1870’s life in the fledgling prairie town of Walnut Grove. This year’s LIVE outdoor drama is set for Fridays and Saturdays, JULY 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23! The family-oriented two-act drama depicts the Ingalls family living near Walnut Grove in the 1870s. Staged in a beautiful natural amphitheater near the banks of Plum Creek a short distance from Walnut Grove, the outdoor drama is faithful to the “Little House” books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Area volunteers make up the cast and production crew of over 60 people. The pageant, in its 45th season has played to over 300,000 people. This story is based on the fourth book in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, “On the Banks of Plum Cree Creek.” ek ” The drama recounts the construction of the town’s church, prairie fires, and the grasshopper plague that wiped out the family’s wheat crop. Elaborate stage sets are complemented with professional lighting and sound systems. The Ingalls’ dugout home, a church, school and general store are among the sets. PAGEANT TICKETS Tickets are best ordered by calling the ticket office at 888-859-3102. Tickets will be held in Will Call. Email confirmation provided. Tickets may be purchased at the gate but call ahead for availability. Seating options are described on our webpage. VIP Seating $25. Reserved Seating price $20. Child may sit on adult lap without charge. General admission $18. Children age 5 and under admitted free in general admission. General admission holders should bring blankets or folding chairs for hillside seating. Gates open at 7:00 p.m.; pageant singers perform at 7:30 p.m.; performance begins at 8:30 p.m. The Wilder Pageant will be celebrating 45 years of performing “Fragments of a Dream.” A cast and crew reunion will be held Saturday, July 9 at 6 p.m. LOCATION One mile west and one-half mile south of Walnut Grove on Crown Avenue. The roads are all in good shape so far this year. Thank you to Mother Nature and the Minnesota Department of Transportation! PAGEANT SUPPERS During pageant weekends, churches and community groups serve meals from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Walnut Grove Community Center at 311 Sixth Street. Open to the public. Menus may vary. Call 888-8593102 for group reservations of 25 or more. Check website in June for additional menu options.
FAMILY FESTIVAL This free annual event at the Walnut Grove City Park offers children’s activities, pioneer demonstrations, concessions, arts and crafts, live music and vendor displays. The festival is held three Saturdays of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant (July 9, 16, 23; 11 a.m.-6 p.m.).
WALNUT GROVE continued on page 18
