Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

Name: Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant
Address: 11505 Crown Avenue, PO Box 313, Walnut Grove, MN, 56180, US
Telephone: +18888593102
Price range: $$

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Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

2026 Wilder Pageant dates:
July 10-11, July 17-18, July 24-25. Tickets available February 2026

06/03/2026

Please enjoy a short slide show of the first 2026 Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Practice

06/02/2026

Meet the 2026 Charles Ingalls Family. The Ingalls Family actors have years of experience in our production; the performers bring a rich history of past roles and refined craft that will elevate their characters onstage.

Charels will be played by Tyler Edwards. Tyler has had 8 years' experience with our production. He has played the roles of William Masters Jr, Abraham Keller, Thomas Quiner, Doc Hoyt and Charles Ingalls.

Jennie Clapp is Caroline Ingalls this year once again. Jennie has 7 years in the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant. Jennie played Caroline last year, in other years she has played Mattie Masters, Nellie Oleson, Nettie Kennedy and Grace Bedal.

Mary is played by Sarah Manley. This will be Sarah's third year in our show. Sarah has played Elizabeth Kennedy and Anna Ensign.

Laura is portrayed by Raelynn Mattison. This is also Raelynn's third year with our production. She has played Carrie Ingalls the past 2 years.

Carrie Ingalls will be played by Ellie Benedict. This is Ellie's first year in the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant.

06/01/2026

During the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, the cast is instructed to get to know your character and your "family".

How do they do this? The performers can learn about who their family was and how they interacted with family, neighbors, teachers, clergy and their friends by getting into their family groups and discuss how life may have been for them in the 1870's. We have many seasoned actors who can explain who the family was and other information they have learned in their many years on set. In our programs is a short synopsis of each family which they can read as well.

They may also learn from Director Erin or Stage Manager Bill who have a myriad of information of pioneer times. Erin reads from books, tells pioneer stories of Walnut Grove, talks of past performers who have also learned of pioneers through their acting, or she asks questions during her chats before practices and performances about how one may have reacted to certain situations during pioneer times.

Why take the time to do this? It is all in an effort to get the cast and crew into the mindset that they are no longer in the present day but have transferred back to the 1870's so our audiences may have the best experience we can give about the story of Laura Ingalls and her family in Walnut Grove and the pioneer lifestyle.

05/30/2026

Director Erin has emailed the cast a schedule for the first week of practice which begins next week.

June 1st is the first practice, and it starts at 6:30 p.m. The cast will get their costumes, get in their family groups and family pictures will be taken. Erin did note she would be at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant site at 6:00 p.m. if anyone wants to arrive early to get their costumes.

The rest of the week the cast will be working on select scenes each day. Cast should check the schedule for the days they will need to be at practice.

Cast remember to wear black socks, brown or black boots/shoes and girls have your hair in two braids or women up in a bun.

Below are photos from previous years of first practice night.

05/27/2026

The Wilder Outdoor Theater was constructed in the fall of 1978 and spring of 1979. Oh, how far we have come.

With the help of many volunteers over the years the Wilder Outdoor Theater, home of The Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is always evolving. The Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is a 501c nonprofit; most of the work done at the pageant site is done through generous donors and volunteers. The Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is appreciative of those who have given their time and monetary donations.

If you have the ability to help, we readily accept any amount of time volunteers can give and if you would like to donate monetarily you may do so on our website www.walnutgrove.org/pageant and go to the donations tab.

05/26/2026

It's hard to believe in less than one week the Wilder Outdoor Theater will be alive and bustling with activity.

On Monday next week we will have our first practice. The cast will pick out costumes and Erin & Bill will give pep talks. This is always an exciting time at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. It's almost like the first day of a new school year. Old friends meeting once again and new friendships are being formed. The anticipation of learning lines, learning the dance and learning any music to be performed. Our cast is dedicated and are looking forward to providing a quality show. The talent returning this year is incredible, and we’re excited to see what everyone brings to their characters.

Below are photos of practices from previous years.

05/22/2026

Reminder: Due to graduations, tomorrow May 23rd, there will be no workday at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant site.

We wish all our past and present cast & crew graduates much success in their new adventures. May you flourish in whatever it is that fills your heart.

05/19/2026

The "Dream" and the beginnings of the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant is told below in the 1978 Program by Tom Farber.

How far this production has come. From the high school auditorium to the outdoor amphitheater where it now calls home. Some of the sets are original to the show when it moved to the outdoor site in 1979 and some are refurbished or new, there is always more to do to keep the theater fresh.
The pageant was first written to be told through the eyes of Caroline Ingalls. The script has evolved over the years and is now told by Laura Ingalls Wilder in her later years. The scripts are changed each year to fit the cast. In the past several years the script is now divided into three parts to be performed over a three‑year period. Each production stands on its own, so it isn’t necessary to see all three in sequence. This rewrite has provided for a more accurate timeline in the telling of the time Laura lived in Walnut Grove.

Get your tickets to see what Laura Ingalls was doing in the years 1875-1876 in Walnut Grove before the Ingalls departed for Burr Oak Iowa on our website www.walnutgrove.org/pageant

05/18/2026

Last Saturday was a workday at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant site.

Steve was there to work in the restrooms. With the help of Bill and Rick the sink was installed in the women's restroom and Steve caulked the floors.

Rick and Bill continued the job of clearing the grapevines from the waterway to help rain run off to flow through the waterway and not flood the grounds.

Lori cleaned the frame to be painted for the new set. Rick and Lori stained boards to be used to make a fence by the front entrance.

This coming Saturday there will be no workday to accommodate everyone who has graduations to attend.

05/15/2026

Reminder: Tomorrow May 16th is another workday at the Walnut Grove Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. We will start at 9:00 A.M. until noon.
There is much work to be done yet. Repairing the Oleson Store set, painting, caulking, fence straightening, and always cleaning to do.

Address

11505 Crown Avenue, PO Box 313
Walnut Grove, MN
56180

Telephone

+18888593102

Website

https://walnutgrove.org/

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