Photo courtesy of William Richards Cast members from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant pet one of the animals used during the show’s run.

The story of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is a story about family — in more ways than one. The plot of the show focuses on the Ingalls family’s experiences as settlers near Walnut Grove. But over 45 summers of performances, the pageant cast and crew have also become like family, organizers said.

Pageant committee president Bill Richards said cast members are looking forward to performing again this weekend as the Wilder Pageant celebrates its 45th anniversary.

“For a lot of people, it’s like a family reunion,” Richards said.

The Wilder Pageant opens tonight in Walnut Grove. Organizers will also be celebrating the pageant’s anniversary with a cast and crew reunion on Saturday.

The first performance of the Wilder Pageant, “Fragments of a Dream,” was in 1978. The play looks back on the Ingalls family’s time in the Walnut Grove area in the 1870s, from when they arrived at Plum Creek, until they made the decision to move to De Smet, S.D.

The pageant has grown a lot over the past four-and-a-half decades with the help of community members. Today, the performances are held at an outdoor amphitheater with life-size sets, as well as lights and special effects.

“We keep working on it every year to improve it,” Richards said, during part of a series of cast and crew interviews pageant organizers shared to social media this spring. Over time, the changes have included updates of the script and sets.

Richards said the pageant brings together a community of people from around southwest Minnesota and beyond.

Since 1978, there have been more than 1,000 people who have acted in the pageant, organizers said. Richards said they’re not expecting that many people at the reunion. However, he said about 100 former and current cast and crew members would be gathering in Walnut Grove on Saturday before the performance.

“We will have about eight or nine of the original cast joining us here on site,” he said.

The pageant performances aren’t the only thing families can check out in Walnut Grove this month. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum will be open daily, and on July 9, 16, and 23, a Family Festival will be held in the Walnut Grove city park. Laura and Nellie lookalike contests will be held in the park at 3 p.m. on each of those dates.

Members of the public can also enjoy locally-prepared meals on pageant days at the “Pageant Suppers” held at the Walnut Grove Community Center. Meals are open to the public from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

On July 29-30, the pageant amphitheater will be the site of the Loose Gravel Music Festival, featuring bands playing a variety of music from folk to rock.

A wide variety of area festivals and other events are also going on this weekend, from the city of Cottonwood’s annual Coming Home Days to the Murray County Classic draft horse show in Slayton. Both events kick off tonight. This weekend, the Summer Arts Festival also returns in Brookings, S.D.

Cottonwood’s Coming Home Days

The community of Cottonwood will be starting the weekend out with a bang. The annual Coming Home Days festival will feature a fireworks show over Cottonwood Lake tonight, and a day of fun events for all ages on Saturday.

“I think the splash dance (on Saturday) is a really big draw for kids,” said Cottonwood City Administrator Teather Bliss. Burger and pork feeds supporting the Cottonwood Fire Department and Ambulance also get a good turnout. This year, a fundraiser to help Cottonwood build a splash pad in town will also be selling “walking desserts.”

Cottonwood residents and the Lyon County Master Gardeners will also hold a garden tour on Saturday morning.

“The gardeners are all ready to go, and they’re excited about it too,” said Sue Morton, one of the garden hosts on the tour. Tour stops will include both residential gardens, and gardens at St. Mary’s Church and North Star Mutual Insurance. Tour tickets will be available in advance at the Cottonwood city office, Cottonwood Co-Op and Marshall Hy-Vee, or at the Co-Op on the day of the show.

Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show

Living history is part of the Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show, which returns to the Murray County Fairgrounds in Slayton this weekend. The event will include three different shows featuring teams of big draft horses like Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Shires.

“We will bring in participants from all over the United States,” said Joe Biren, one of the organizers of the draft horse show. Biren said a dozen different six-horse hitches will be judged in this year’s shows.

The main draft horse shows will be held Saturday and Sunday. Junior cart and junior team show events tonight will also showcase younger competitors, who will work with an adult to drive their teams of horses, Biren said.

On Saturday, visitors can also see horses and old-time farm equipment at work during farming demonstrations. Biren said the demonstrations draw a big crowd.

Brookings Summer Arts Festival

The 51st annual Brookings Summer Arts Festival starts Saturday at Pioneer Park in Brookings, S.D. On Saturday and Sunday, the park transforms into an outdoor art gallery that showcases original artwork from hundreds of artists, organizers said. Artists from South Dakota and 13 other states will be displaying their work. An interactive children’s area with kid-friendly entertainment is located at the heart of the park.

Living history and antiques booths also let festival visitors explore South Dakota heritage, festival organizers said.

Music and food are also key parts of the festival. Free live music will be performed on three stages around Pioneer Park, and a total of 38 gourmet and ethnic food booths will offer everything from chislic to crab cakes, gyros and quesadillas.

If you go

Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, Walnut Grove

Performances at 8:30 p.m. on July 8-9, 15-16, 22-23.

Family Festival from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Walnut Grove city park on July 9, 16 and 23.

Pageant suppers from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Walnut Grove Community Center.

Coming Home Days, Cottonwood

Today

12:30 p.m. Golf scramble at Cottonwood Country Club

6:30 p.m. Bingo at Community Center

9 p.m. Livin’ Rich Karaoke at LeRoy’s

10 p.m. Fireworks show over Cottonwood Lake

Saturday

7:30 a.m. 5K walk/run at CW Reishus Park

10 a.m. Medallion hunt at the Fire Hall

10 a.m. Garden tour

10 a.m. Volleyball tourney at CW Reishus Park

10 a.m. Kiddie Bingo at Central Park

10 a.m. Beanbag tourney at the Fire Hall

11 a.m. Burger feed at the Fire Hall

11 a.m. Inflatables at Central Park

Noon RC plane demonstration at the golf course

Noon Splash dance at Central Park

1:30 p.m. Pedal pull at the Fire Hall

4 p.m. Parade

4:30 p.m. Pork feed at the Fire hall

8 p.m. Street dance at LeRoy’s featuring IV Play

Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show, Slayton

Today

7:30 p.m. Classic Cart Series, Junior Cart and Junior Team Show

Saturday

9 a.m. Gates open

10 a.m. Old-time farming demonstrations

2 p.m. Draft Horse Show

Sunday

9 a.m. Gates open

12:30 p.m. Draft Horse Show

Brookings Summer Arts Festival

Event at Pioneer Park, located at 1st Ave. and 6th St., or West Highway 14, Brookings, S.D. No pets. Shuttle buses available from the SD Ag Museum north parking lot, at 11th St. and Medary Avenue North. Cost is $1 each way.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.