Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin Wisconsin
Little House on the Prairie Author Celebrated September 13-14, 2008
Aug 15, 2008
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin, Wisconsin, is a chance to time travel back into the late 1800s and visit an authentic historical marketplace. Artisans and crafters demonstrate the arts of the frontier days in a park near the Great Mississippi River , about 90 minutes south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. Laura Ingalls Wilders Days takes place September 13 - 14, 2008,. The 18th anniversary of this popular community event celebrates the 141th anniversary of Laura's birth in Pepin.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pepin was the birthplace of the author of the "Little House on the Prairie" series. Laura Ingalls Wilder's series of books about her life became a popular television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert. The Ingalls family lived in a small log cabin in Pepin when Laura was born, in 1867. Later the family moved to Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota.
Laura married Almanzo Wilder and the couple moved to Missouri, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Their daughter, Rose, liked to listen to the stories of her mother's childhood. Laura wrote her childhood tales down and they became the popular series of books. The first book, "Little House in the Big Woods," was set in the Wisconsin cabin in Pepin.
The Little House on the Prairie series is a window into the hardships and joys of frontier life from a young woman's perspective. The books are popular with children and adults. The book series has been translated into more than 40 languages.
Festival Highlights
- Traditional Arts and Crafts. The traditional crafts area is a favorite, with live demonstrators displaying the crafts and explaining how pioneers used the products of their hands. Arts and crafts demonstrated include blacksmithing, basket making, woodworking, spinning, quilting and cooking. Demonstrators are happy to discuss their crafts with interested onlookers, making this section both interesting and educational. Demonstrators in the traditional area dress in authentic costumes, recreating a day in the 1870's.
- Entertainment. The entertainment area features contests, games and music.
- Pepin Laura Contest. "Pepin Laura" Contest: contestants demonstrate their knowledges of the era.
- Old Tyme Fiddle Contest. The 7th Annual Old Tyme Fiddle Contest takes place on Saturday afternoon from 3:30 to 6:00 pm.
- Candlelight Demonstrations. On Saturday night a traditional crafts demonstration is held by candle light. The bonfire adds warmth, light and atmosphere. Traditional musical performances fill the air with melodies of times past.
- Laura's Birth Site. Guided bus tours transport visitors to Laura's birth site, which is a short drive from the festival ground. The original log cabin was destroyed, but a faithful reproduction stands in its place.
- Food, Arts and Crafts. Vendors offer a variety of food, arts and crafts near the entertainment area.
Festival Information
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days is a great weekend event in Pepin Wisconsin The festival is a weekend event, September 13 and 14, 2008. There is no fee for admittance. Arts, crafts and food are available for purchase. The festival grounds are on Route 35 in Pepin, Wisconsin.
Where is Pepin, Wisconsin?
Pepin is in northwestern, Wisconsin, on the Great Mississippi River; Driving distances from major cities: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN 76 miles, La Crosse, WI 73 miles; Madison, WI 208 miles; Milwaukee, WI 208 miles; Chicago, IL 348 miles. Mileage estimates from Mapquest.
For more about the Mississippi River, read: Great Mississippi River Keeps Rollin' Along
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