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This Minnesota Town Turns Little House on the Prairie Into a Live Pageant

Walnut Grove, Minnesota, celebrates Laura Ingalls Wilder with an annual Wilder Pageant depicting her family's life and travels.

Published Jul 1, 2023

Written by 

Trent Jonas

Laura Ingalls Wilder is a beloved American author whose connections to Minnesota gained renown in her book On the Banks of Plum Creek. Her connection to the state became even more famous in the 1970s thanks to the television series Little House on the Prairie, which was set in the southwestern Minnesota town of Walnut Grove. Walnut Grove, in turn, celebrates Ingalls Wilder with a fascinating museum and an annual Wilder Pageant in Minnesota that depicts the Ingalls family’s travels and tribulations.

Each July, Walnut Grove hosts the Wilder Pageant for three consecutive weekends.

Sign reading "Wilder Pageant" at the entrance of a grassy path lined with trees under a clear blue sky.

The pageant site, like Ingalls Wilder’s book about her time in the area, is set on the banks of Plum Creek, west of Walnut Grove.

A western-style town with wooden buildings, a wagon, and people posing for a photo in a grassy area.

Guests are encouraged to come early, explore the area, and participate in activities like hay rides.

Eventually, it’s time to find your seats.

A large crowd gathers on a grassy area for an outdoor event, with people seated and standing, enjoying the atmosphere.

And settle in for the show.

A theater performance outdoors with a horse, set against a backdrop of buildings and a large audience in the foreground.

Watch as the pageant’s players depict the Ingalls family’s journey to Walnut Grove.

A group of people in traditional attire poses by a horse-drawn wagon in a lush, green outdoor setting.

When they first arrived, they lived in an earthen dugout while Charles “Pa” Ingalls built their home.

A horse-drawn wagon in front of a partially constructed building with actors in period costumes during an outdoor performance.

The pageant depicts the struggles they experienced in Walnut Grove.

A wooden cart on fire at night, with people nearby watching the flames and smoke in a rural setting.

As well as the triumphs. Ultimately, though, Pa Ingalls was a mercurial figure who was always seeking the next thing, and the family decamped for De Smet, South Dakota… But you’ll have to see the pageant for yourself to learn all that transpired.

A stage scene depicting a domestic setting with actors in period costumes engaged in various activities.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Wilder Pageant on the web.

A gray two-story house surrounded by green grass and trees, featuring a front porch and large windows.

The Wilder Pageant is a bucket list event for any Laura Ingalls Wilder enthusiast, to be sure! If you also happen to have an interest in Minnesota’s deeper cultural history, consider a visit to nearby Jefferson Petroglyphs, as well. It’s an archaeological site that connects the land now occupied by Minnesota to centuries of Native history. It’s a fascinating place that also happens to offer some excellent hiking opportunities.

Have you attended the Wilder Pageant? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

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