It’s not always easy to find out about what’s going on for Laura Ingalls Wilder events around the country. I finally decided that current information is probably best posted on a month by month basis so for current information search this site for the name of the month you are looking for and the word event (for example October 2016 Laura Ingalls Wilder Events).
Let me know if I’m missing any. Most of these events are annual, but check with the group hosting the event for exact dates for following years.
Watch for updates information on my events page.
Listen to the podcast walking you through the year.
Pepin WI
150th Celebration of Laura’s Birthday – February 4-5, 2017 – an event in Pepin, Wisconsin in honor of Laura’s 150th birthday – Details coming later, but will include activities at the replica birthplace cabin.
Laura Days – September 9-10, 2017
Independence KS
Prairie Days – Saturday, June 10, 2017
Walnut Grove MN
- July 14-15, 2017
- July 21-22, 2017
- July 28-29, 2017
It’s the 40th Anniversary of the Pageant! Family Festival held in Walnut Grove City Park on pageant Saturdays July 15, July 22, and July 29, 2017
11:00 am to 6:00 pm Check the Walnut Grove website for full schedule and more details as it gets closer. At this point, no speakers or celebrity appearances are scheduled.
Burr Oak IA
Find out more about their events.
Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction and 150th Celebration – February 17, 2017 5:30pm – 7:30 pm
Advent Christian Church Open House (the church by the cemetery at the top of the hill, you drive by the cemetery on the way into town but you have to go through town to reach the parking area and the church) – May 29, 2017 (Memorial Day) 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days June 23-25, 2017 – This will be the 40th Anniversary of the event
Fall Fest and Used Book Sale October 2017 – Date TBA – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Birthday Parties can be scheduled by any group at any time.
De Smet SD
July 14-16 2017 – an event in De Smet, South Dakota in honor of Laura’s 150th anniversary – Details coming later
- July 7, 8, 9, 2017
- July 14, 15, 16 2017
- July 21, 22, 23 2017
Pageant Selection for 2018 – These Happy Golden Years
The Ingalls Homestead is hosting a Plein Air Event (painting in the open air) in conjunction with the Harvey Dunn Society. Find more details about a previous event. – August 11, 12, 13, 2017
The Memorial Society in De Smet staunchly held for years that when you pay a subscription for Laura Ingalls Wilder Lore it was only a subscription and it was completely separate from the museum. Now the museum has a new membership program. They are honoring current subscriptions to Lore until they expire, but it doesn’t include the varying levels and member benefits. Current lifetime memberships will be honored, but it will no longer be an option to get new ones. An article appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of the Lore with a fuller explanation of the membership program.
Spring Valley MN
Find more about their events.
Almanzo 100 Gravel Road Bike Race – May 20, 2017
Annual Ice Cream Social – June 16, 2017 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Eliza Jane School Days – July 24-25 & 27-28, 2017
Ag Days (town celebration) August 17-20, 2017
Christmas teas – Dec. 2-3. 2017 (reservations required)
Mansfield MO
At this point no dates schedules yet there has been some changes in administration this last year.
Dates for pageant not yet announced
Wilder Days: September 15,16, & 17, 2017
Malone/Burke NY
Find more on events.
Annual Board Meeting where any member may attend Saturday, January 21, 2017, 9:00am Malone Lodge of the Elks, Elm Street Malone RSVP by farm@almanzowilderfarm.com or 518-483-1207.
July 22, 2017 Children’s Art Gala
- Children’s art on display, along with students’ essays. Award ceremony and the announcement of Honorary Laura and Almanzo
- Kids art activities, 19th century games, vendors, food
Entertainment & more!
Aug. 26, 2017— Annual Cultural Festival – Native American Festival!
Celebrating the Native American heritage of the area in the mid 19th century with traditional food, music, dancers, demonstrations, craft vendors, and more!
Sept. 23, 2017 Annual Harvest Festival & Civil War Living History Encampment
- Civil War living history encampment and
- Pumpkin painting and children’s 19th century game in the orchard, children’s corn pit in the barn,
- 8th Annual “As Time Passes” adult juried art show on display
- Entertainment, demonstrators, craft & produce
Sept. 24 Open extended Sunday hours 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Civil War re-enactors living history encampment and one skirmish. Regu- lar admission and guided tours available. Last tour at 3pm.
Last day of regular season is Sunday, Oct. 1st.
Private tours by appointment through October
Dec. 2, 2017 Christmas with Almanzo children’s craft activities,
Farmer Boy Christmas chapter readings, carol singing.
ALL EVENTS AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Vinton IA
Mary Ingalls Society Pageant – August 4, 5, and 6, 2017. The 6th will be a Sunday Maintee.
Keystone SD – Longtime Home of Carrie Ingalls Swanzey
Keystone Area Historical Association always hosts an event on August 3rd, Carrie’s actual birthday no matter what day of the week it falls on.
South Dakota State Historical Society – Sioux Falls SD
April 28-29, 2017 – South Dakota State Historical Conference – Laura Ingalls Wilder, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Ushers Ferry Historic Village – Cedar Rapids IA
Laura Ingalls Wilder Birthday Party Sunday, February 5, 2017 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Tickets Required. (Scroll down on page to find tickets)
American Printing House for the Blind – Louisville, Kentucky
January 7, 2017 – Mary Ingalls Birthday Party
Pomona Public Library – Pomona CA
Laura Ingalls Wilder Gingerbread Sociable – Saturday, February 4, 2017 1:00pm – 3:00pm
http://www1.youseemore.com/pomona
Old World Wisconsin – Eagle WI
150th Birthday Party at Old World Wisconsin– February 4, 2017 10:00 am to 12:00 pm or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm More information – Preregistration is required.
World of Little House – July 22, 2017 to July 30, 2017 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Watch their website for more information.
Heritage Hill – Green Bay WI
Laura Ingalls Wilder Event August 12 & 13, 2017 10:00 am – 4:30 pm– Watch their website for more details.
Genesee Country Village and Museum – Mumford, NY
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days – August 5-6, 2017 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Watch for their page to be updated with 2017 information
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum – West Branch, Iowa
Hoover’s Hometown Days – August 5, 2017 1:30 pm Christine Woodside of Libertarians on the Prairie and David Davenport of Rugged Individualism to talk about their respective books.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered – September 4, 2017
No details yet, but they plan on having their usual temporary Wilder display up a little longer than usual.
National Cowgirl Museum – Fort Worth, Texas
The National Cowgirl Museum had quit their annual Laura party a few years back so thanks to Beyond Little House for giving me a heads up for this one.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 150th Birthday Program – February 25, 2017 10am – 1pm
Conferences
South Dakota State Historical Society History Conference
April 28 – 29, 2017| Sioux Falls, South Dakota
LauraPalooza July 12–14, 2017
Books
- New HarperCollins edition out Feb. 7, 2017 – 1st three “Little House” books, also available as single titles “Return to the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic series with this gorgeous box set, which includes hardcover, unjacketed editions of the first three Little House novels—all featuring new, iconic cover art, special forewords, and no interior art.”
- The Little House Book of Wisdom – a collection of quotes by Wilder
- An updated set of the Harper abridgments
- Pioneer Girl Perspectives: Exploring Laura Ingalls Wilder, edited by Nancy Tystad Koupal Read more
- A Wilder World by Marta McDowell
- Prairie Fires: The Life and Times of Laura Ingalls Wilder By Caroline Fraser
Last Updated: January 31, 2017
By Sarah S. Uthoff info@trundlebedtales.com
Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales striving to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
