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Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant

THEATER ON THE PRAIRIE × DE SMET, SOUTH DAKOTA
A COMMUNITY TRADITION SINCE 1971

New for 2024!

Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories

 July 5, 6, 7 • 12, 13, 14 • 19, 20, 21


Gates Open 6PM • Performance at 8PM

A new era comes to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant prairie stage!  Debuting in summer 2024, Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories is the first of three installments in our new series of summer theatrical productions.  Join Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, as they craft Laura’s childhood memories of the founding of De Smet and homesteading with her family into the beloved Little House books.  Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories follow the Ingalls family’s move to Dakota Territory to help build the railroad. They enjoy winter in the Surveyor’s House as Laura treasures the lighthearted days of childhood.  

Held on our outdoor, prairie stage overlooking the Big Slough and cottonwood trees planted by Charles Ingalls. This prairie setting highlights the simple beauty of Laura’s stories.

Admission
$15 Adults • $10 Children ages 6-12 • Children ages 5 &under Free

No advance purchase necessary for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Performance in De Smet. The show does not sell out and we do not turn guests away

 2024 Schedule of Events

July 5 · 6 · 7
Pageant Performance each night at 8pm, Gates open at 6pm
Live music each night before the show!

FRIDAY, JULY 5
On the Pageant Grounds
-Oak Lake String Band, 6:30PM

SATURDAY, JULY 6
At the De Smet Cemetery
-Cemetery Tour, 3PM

On the Pageant Grounds
- Fiddlers of South Dakota, musical performance, 6:30PM

SUNDAY, JULY 7
At the American Legion Hall (104 3rd St SW)
-Pancake Feed hosted by the American Legion, 9AM-1PM

On the Pageant Grounds
-Non-denominational Sunday Service, 10AM
-Oak Lake String Band, 6:30PM

July 12 ·13 · 14
Pageant Performance each night at 8pm, Gates open at 6pm
Live music each night before the show!

ON THE PAGE & STAGE: WRITING LAURA’S HISTORY
Celebrate our new script and show for 2024 with special events on July 12 & 13 to celebrate writers, authors, researchers, and historians who make sharing Laura’s history and South Dakota heritage possible. Event flyer available here.

FRIDAY, JULY 12
De Smet’s Hazel L. Meyer Memorial Library, on Calumet Ave, next to Depot Museum

-PAGE & STAGE POETRY WORKSHOP, 3PM
If you love words and literature, come create your own work using Laura’s words.  Led by Cindy Wilson, this simple, fun workshop is open to children and adults.

On the Pageant Grounds

-OLD-FASHIONED CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES WITH JULIE FRANCES MILLER, 6PM-8PM
Join in the old-fashioned children's activities before the pageant every night this weekend from 6-8 p.m.

-VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Cheryl Palmlund, will be recognized for her years of service to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. Find out more about Cheryl in our pageant program or at the Kingsbury Journal newspaper.

-Curtis & Loretta, Folk Music Duo, 6:30PM
Funding for Curtis & Loretta in part by the SD Arts Council. South Dakota Arts Council support is provided with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SATURDAY, JULY 13
ON THE PAGE & STAGE
9:30am - 3PM Join us to celebrate writing, research, and history! All of the following events will take place at the De Smet Event & Wellness Center.

Featured Guests & Presentations
-CINDY WILSON, 9:30AM, “The Railroad and the Ingalls Family: from Tracy to De Smet”
Cindy Wilson is the author of two books: newly released, We Suffered Much: Charles Wood Irish and the Dakota Territory Railroad Survey of 1879-1881 and The Beautiful Snow: The Ingalls Family, The Railroads, and the Hard Winter of 1880-1881 released in 2020. We Suffered Much was recently selected as the winner in the Regional Non-Fiction: Midwest category by the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA). Like many others, Cindy fell in love with the Little House books in third grade, The Long Winter being her favorite. Cindy is passionate about history and enchanted by the prairie landscape.

-RICK MILLS, 10:30AM, “Little Trains Across the Prairie - 1879 to 2024” 
Rick has been sharing his knowledge and love of South Dakota railroad history for over 40 years.  Rick serves as the Curator and Museum Director, and is a founder of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum located in Hill City, S.D. If you are headed west on your vacation, we highly recommend a visit!

-NANCY TYSTAD KOUPAL, 11:30AM, “Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane on the Path into Fiction”
Nancy is the director and editor-in-chief of the Pioneer Girl Project, which allows millions of people to better understand the origin and development of Laura’s books.  Nancy founded the South Dakota State Historical Society Press in 1997 served as director until 2021.  Her efforts built the press into a respected, award-winning, publisher showcasing South Dakota history.

SOUTH DAKOTA AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT, 12:30-2:00PM 
Meet authors and writers from South Dakota! These authors have diverse backgrounds and stories to tell.  They want to share their books and experience with you! 

We will be joined by De Ann Wolkow Kruempel, Richard Skorupski, Brenda DeHaan, Lee Friesen, Christina Schepker-Pikul, Heidi Herman, Brad Tennant, Marie Cleveland, David W. Fields, and James Jesser.  To read a bit more about each of these authors, download our flyer here.

ON THE PAGE & STAGE Q&A with featured guests, 2:00PM-3:00PM 

Join us at 2:00pm on July 13 for a discussion moderated by South Dakota State Historical Society Press Director, Dedra Birzer   Our featured guests will share their perspectives writing and presenting history in books, theater, and museums. 

-GOGO Burritos, 11AM
Grab a bite from GOGO Burritos Food Truck! They will be at the De Smet Event & Wellness Center for lunch and at the pageant grounds for dinner.’

At the De Smet Cemetery
-Cemetery Tour, 3PM

On the Pageant Grounds
-OLD-FASHIONED CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES WITH  JULIE FRANCES MILLER, 6PM-8PM
Join in the old fashioned children's activities before the pageant every night this weekend from 6-8 p.m.
- Fiddlers of South Dakota, musical performance, 6:30PM

SUNDAY, JULY 14
At the American Legion Hall (104 3rd St SW)
-Pancake Feed hosted by the De Smet Community Women, 9AM-1PM

On the Pageant Grounds
-Non-denominational Sunday Service, 10AM
-OLD-FASHIONED CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES WITH  JULIE FRANCES MILLER, 6PM-8PM
Join in the old fashioned children's activities before the pageant every night this weekend from 6-8 p.m.
- Fiddlers of South Dakota, musical performance, 6:30PM

July 19 ·20 · 21
Pageant Performance each night at 8pm, Gates open at 6pm
Live music each night before the show!

FRIDAY, JULY 19
On the Pageant Grounds

-Phil Baker, Children’s Musician & Entertainer, 6:30PM
Funding for Phil Baker in part by the SD Arts Council. South Dakota Arts Council support is provided with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SATURDAY, JULY 20
At the De Smet Cemetery
-Cemetery Tour, 3PM

On the Pageant Grounds
-Old FashionMed Children’s Activities 6PM - 8P
-Plum Crazy musical guests perform prior to the show 6:30PM

SUNDAY, JULY 21
At the American Legion Hall (104 3rd St SW)
-Pancake Feed hosted by De Smet & Iroquois/Lake Preston High School Clay Target Team, 9AM-1PM

On the Pageant Grounds
-Non-denominational Sunday Service, 10AM
-Plum Crazy musical guests perform prior to the show 6:30PM

This schedule is subject to change. Please check back or contact us for updates. A friendly reminder that we do not allow recording, taping, videoing, or live broadcasting of the pageant performance.

Planning Your Visit to De Smet

We are glad you're considering coming to De Smet for the performance.  There are other 'Laura’ sites to visit in De Smet and we have found that visitors often spend an entire day in De Smet.  Please don't hesitate to call or email if you have questions about all there is to do and see in town.  A list of attraction, lodging, and dining information is below.

800-776-3594  or 800-880-3383

Be sure to visit the helpful City of De Smet website when planning your trip.

Attractions

Lodging in De Smet

Other Area Lodging

  • Hometown Motel - 605-625-5226: located in Willow Lake, SD

  • Arlington Inn - 605-983-4609; located in Arlington, SD

  • Prairie Retreat B&B - 605-625-5085; located near Bryant, SD

Camping

Dining

  • Concessions available on our grounds beginning at 6pm

  • Oxbow Restaurant - 800-854-9988

  • Half-Pint Grill & Pub - 605-854-9129

  • Ward's Store and Bakery - 605-854-3688

  • De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse - (605) 860-2683

  • Dairy Queen - 605-854-9000

  • Wheatie's Sports Bar - 605-854-3715

  • Klinkel’s III - 605-854-9171

  • Cowboy Country Store - 605-854-3553

  • The Main Stop - 605-854-3200

  • Maynard's Grocery - 605-854-3432

Pageant History

1951   Families gathered around their radios to listen to the Hallmark Playhouse presentation of "The Long Winter." If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can still find it here!

1955   After receiving permission from Hallmark Playhouse to use its script, local actors performed "The Long Winter" in the high school auditorium at no charge to the public.

1968   As part of the summer arts festival, local actors once again performed "The Long Winter" in the high school auditorium. People poured in, and extra chairs were brought in from the Lutheran Church, and still more people continued to come in.

1971   Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the 1968 production, a group of local volunteers developed plans for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, an outdoors family drama to celebrate the life and writings of our home town author. Several local civic organizations-- the Kiwanis, Jaycees, and Chamber of Commerce assisted in the production.

1973   The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society was founded, a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of Laura's legacy.

1974   The LIW Pageant Society purchased thirty acres of land to become the pageant's permanent home. This beautiful section of land is nestled between the Ingalls Homestead, the big slough, and Silver Lake.

Over the years, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant has become a local tradition. Each summer more than a hundred volunteers combine their talents to present a family-friendly drama based on the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. People from all over the world gather together on the beautiful South Dakota prairie and step back into history to a time when the West was just opening up to a wave of pioneering men and women. It is our goal to preserve--through drama--the family values and pioneering spirit of the Ingalls family.

Get Involved!

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant thrives because of the generous time and talent of many individuals. If you are interested in getting involved, we’d love to have you help. Contact us here, or reach out to use on social media.

ACTORS & TECHNICAL CREW

We are always on the look out for actors and technical help. Auditions are generally held in late April or early May. We place announcements here, on our website, via our social media channels, and in regional newspapers and on radio stations.

VOLUNTEERS

Looking to be involved in the pageant, but not comfortable with the acting or tech duties? Hosting visitors from around the world every summer requires a many helping hands. If you are interested, we are always excited to find volunteers to help greet visitors, hand out programs, help in the concession stand, register visitors for our book giveaways, and park cars to name a few duties. Reach out to use via phone, email, or on social media and we’ll be in touch!

Our organization

For over 50 years, we have worked to share Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories and history with visitors from around the world. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed in 1971. Our Board of Directors includes Kristy Hubbard (President), Jim Pekron (Vice President), Jenny Todd (Secretary), Eric Fairchild (Treasurer), Snookie Stoddard, Susan Thomas, Kathy Ostrander, Dedra Birzer, and Megan Ostrander, with honorary board members Curt Bau, Tim Sullivan, and Marian Cramer.
Our financial information is available for review at the following links. 2022 990

Contact Us

PHONE

We are a small non-profit organization.  The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society and the Ingalls Homestead graciously field phone calls for us.  They can answer any questions you have about attending the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant or visiting the De Smet area.  

Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society - 800-880-3383

Ingalls Homestead - 800-776-3594

MAIL

Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society
PO Box 154
De Smet, SD   57231

EMAIL

Email us directly or use the form below.  

desmetpageant [@] gmail.com