Highlights Archives
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days Spell Fun
One of the highlights of every season at Old World Wisconsin is the arrival of Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, when the outdoor museum of rural immigrant life celebrates the life and times of the beloved author of the Little House books and her family. This year the event kicks off on Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids dress the part and take part in many of the same kinds of games and chores that Laura would have done in her youth. And this year is no exception, except that there's more in store for adult visitors too, with the addition of a variety of farm power demonstrations ranging from period washing machines to horse-powered treadmills. And thus the event has a new name, Laura Ingalls Wilder Days Plus Farm Power.
Historic Demonstrations Aplenty
Visitors can make shingles, churn butter, crank ice cream, jump into a mountain of hay and try many more hands-on activities. Another focus will be the harvesting of hay planted on site last year — baling, mowing, raking — and guests can even help pitch it onto wagons. In the farm power demonstration area, there will be hit-and-miss engines, flour grinding, a Model T, a state-of-the-art, turn-of-the-century Maytag and more, all demonstrating equipment used to make work easier. In the Loomer Barn area, a horse-powered treadmill will also showcase the muscle that animals lent to farming operations.
Young visitors love to dress for the day and participate in the look-alike pageant, appearing just like one of their favorite characters from the books. The look-alike pageants take place at 3 p.m. in Caldwell Farmers' Club Hall both days of the event. At 2 p.m. on Saturday only, author Carrie A. Meyer will sign copies of her book, Days on the Family Farm: From the Golden Age through the Great Depression.
Many Other Activities to Keep Visitors Engaged
Besides the Laura Ingalls Wilder and farm power activities, many of the sights and sounds you can expect to see and hear every day of the week at Old World Wisconsin can be found all around the nearly 600-acre site — from games of hoops and sticks in Caldwell Hall and blacksmithing demonstrations in the in the heart of the 1870s Crossroads Village to lessons in the one-room Raspberry School and oxen teams working the fields.
If You Go
For complete details on hours, admission fees, locations and directions, and other details, see our Plan Your Visit pages.
:: Posted July 20, 2009
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