WGWilderPageant

The Wilder Pageant Committee met April 27th. The Village Fair gave an update. Pageant Singers update: they now have 6 performers. Scholarships: We had many applications this year, the Pageant Committee gave out a total of $3000.00. The 50th committee also gave their report.

Saturday April 2nd from 8:00a.m. to 11:00 a.m. we are having a workday at the Walnut Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant site. We are painting. If you have some time and like to paint, or if you don't like to but are willing, just show up at the site. We provide the paint and brushes.

Saturday April 25th was a workday at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant site. The great crew of workers were Chris, Lucas, Josh, Erin, Jennie, Bill, Julie, Daniel, Rick & Lori. It was a brisk wet morning, and everyone worked so efficiently much work was completed.

Plum thickets are once again in bloom along Plum Creek. In Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in part one of the trilogies "Faith in the Dream" Caroline sends the girls to gather the plums. Hopefully there will be plums this year; we will make some plum jam....stay tuned.

Quick reminder: Workday this Saturday April 25, at the pageant site from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We are always looking for volunteers. Just show up and we will find something for you to do that fits your abilities. Below are several great people who showed up in previous years

Spring has sprung in Walnut Grove. The trees are getting their leaves, flowers are beginning to bloom, and it has warmed up. Many of the spring plants that start showing up in Minnesota are edible. The pioneers in the time of Laura Ingalls Wilder used them as food and medicine.

This is only the second year for this year's production of The Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, "Chasing the Dream". There will be faith, family and friends as with all our shows. Purchase your tickets and select your seating on our website walnutgrove.org/pageant

Volunteers are how the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is a success for 49 years! Volunteers clean, paint, build, move sets, and much more. We cannot thank those enough who show up year after year to get the site ready for the season. Below are some past volunteers.

Plum Creek at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. The water was so clear you can see the bottom of the creek bed. There are walk bridges that cross Plum Creek at the Lower Plum Creek Park just a couple miles from Walnut Grove and the Ingalls Dugout site north of town.

Near the Pageant site: Lake Laura with a new beach front. ADA accessible with a sidewalk that goes to the beach. At the parking area is restrooms and sidewalks around the parking lot. There are many activities at Plum Creep Upper & Lower Parks. Come enjoy a day in Walnut Grove.

Fire on the Prairie! This was a controlled burn by the Walnut Grove Fire Department at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. It is done to get rid of dead overgrowth, so it is not fuel for fires, get rid of some unwanted weeds and give the grass a better chance to grow.

April 25th we will open the sets and evaluate what needs attention. Much work needs to be done and there is work for all abilities. If you want to help out, just show up. This production has always relied on our volunteers to keep costs down and make the production successful.

Remembering Marilyn Swanson. Marilyn was a part of the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant 14 years. She had many roles, Myra Hoyt, Maria Clark Bedal, Margaret Kennedy and others. The support Marilyn offered to the pageant is forever cherished and etched in our memories.

Last few days to tryout. The in-person tryouts have ended, but if you are still thinking you are interested in being a part of our production you may still tryout out online until Wednesday this week. Contact Erin at liw.richards@gmail.com to set up a time to audition.

Who was Thomas Quiner? Thomas Quiner was Caroline's youngest brother in real life. In our 2023 production of "Chasing the Dream" Thomas was Caroline's brother. He came to visit the Ingalls and Charles and Carolne talk of the hardships they had in Walnut Grove.

Reminder: Graduating High School Seniors apply for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Scholarship from the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. Requirements are you have been a part of the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant now or in the past. walnutgrove.org/wilder-pageant…

Tryout last Friday and Saturday were a success. There were many returning actors and actresses from previous years. In the next 2 weeks director Erin will be going through her notes and possible call backs to decide the cast. Erin will email the results to each actor.

Tryouts for this summer's production of "Chasing the Dream are tonight, March 27th from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and tomorrow March 28th from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Walnut Grove, MN. 16 years old or younger need a signed parental permission slip

Reminder tomorrow night, March 27th from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and Saturday March 28th from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Trinity Lutheran Church 601 7th St, Walnut Grove, MN. Below is a short video from Director Erin explaining the process of our tryouts.

Recap of the Wilder pageant Committee meeting March 23, 2026