Weekend brings fair time fun, ‘Little House’ stars
More chances for summer fun are coming up in the region this weekend. County fair season has started in southwest Minnesota, with both the Yellow Medicine County Fair in Canby and the Redwood County Fair in Redwood Falls kicking off today. And in Walnut Grove, the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant will be welcoming cast members of “Little House on the Prairie” to celebrate the TV show’s 50th anniversary.
“Little House on the Prairie” first aired in 1974, and brought the story of the Ingalls family to people across the country. This weekend, a panel of “Little House” cast members will be in the real-life Walnut Grove, for a few different events. Among the confirmed guests are Dean Butler, Alison Arngrim, Charlotte Stewart, Sidney Greenbush, Leslie Landon and Michael Landon, Jr.
Cast members will visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant on both Friday and Saturday, and speak before the start of the pageant. There will also be autograph sessions with the stars in the Walnut Grove city park on Friday and Saturday afternoon. A photo opportunity with the visiting stars will be held at the community center on Sunday morning.
More details on the cast reunion events, the annual Family Festival in Walnut Grove, and the Wilder Pageant, is available online at https://walnutgrove.org.
Yellow Medicine Co. Fair starts in Canby
There will be plenty of action planned at this year’s Yellow Medicine County Fair. Starting Thursday, the grandstand events kick off with Casino Speedway’s stock car races. Friday night will feature both a demolition derby and a Power Wheels derby for kids. The action will switch back to racing on Saturday, with Baja races.
During the day, there’s also plenty of fun planned at the fair, from 4-H events to live music, a vendor show and a variety of activities for kids. Bounce Around Inflatables will be at the fair Thursday through Saturday, with wristbands available for purchase.
Redwood Co. Fair starts in Redwood Falls
A variety of entertainment, from the midway, to concerts and bull riding, is on the schedule for the Redwood County Fair. The Great Frontier Bull Riding Company will bring the action at the grandstand on Thursday night. Demolition derby will be held on Saturday night, and the Redwood Speedway races will be Sunday’s grandstand event.
There will be three nights of main stage entertainment at the fair, too. Craig Campbell and special guest Jared Blake will perform Thursday night. On Friday, Collin Raye will perform with special guest Trailer Choir. Saturday’s main stage performance will take the audience back to the turn of the millennium with the Pop 2000 Tour.
Throughout the fair, there will also be chances for people of all ages to get in on the fun, with events like a baking contest, a kids’ pedal tractor pull, and a chance to meet characters from the Paw Patrol cartoon.
Schedules of events
Wilder Pageant, Walnut Grove
Pageant gates open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visiting “Little House on the Prairie” cast members will speak at 7:00.
Family Festival: held Saturday and Sunday at the Wilder Museum and Walnut Grove City Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Little House on the Prairie” cast reunion: Events will be held on July 19-21. More information on autograph sessions and photo opportunities with “Little House” stars can be found online at https://walnutgrove.org/2024-cast-reunion/.
Yellow Medicine County Fair, Canby
THURSDAY
Vendor show
Bounce Around Inflatables, 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
2-6 p.m.: Jessica’s Little Ponies and Rascals petting zoo
3 p.m.: Kids’ watermelon eating contest
5-7 p.m.: Larry Olson Band
5 p.m.: Kids’ crafts with Blue Barn Art Studio
7 p.m: Street car races
FRIDAY
Vendor show
Bounce Around Inflatables, 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
3-5 p.m.: Balloon Art by Lizzy the Clown
5 p.m.: Mario Callens & the Midwest Cowboys
5 p.m.: Adult art class by Blue Barn Art Studio
5:30 p.m.: Lego building contest
5:30-7 p.m.: Steak sandwiches by Midwest Cattlemen’s association
7 p.m.: Demolition derby
SATURDAY
11 a.m.: Little Scrappers pedal pull
11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Caricatures by Casey
1 p.m.: FFA Ag Olympics
2:30 p.m.: Youth small animal show
3-5 p.m.: Face painting by Ms. Chevious
5 p.m.: Pie eating contest
6 p.m.: Jewelrymaking
7 p.m.: Baja races
Redwood County Fair, Redwood Falls
THURSDAY
5 p.m.: Midway opens
6:30 p.m: Great Frontier Bull Riding
8 p.m.: Craig Campbell with special guest Jared Blake
FRIDAY
8:30 a.m.: Day care day
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Central-Bi free gate
1-5 p.m.: Kids’ day ($1 midway rides)
8 p.m.: Collin Raye with special guest Trailer Choir
SATURDAY
9 a.m.: 4-H ribbon auction
10 a.m.: Baking contest
Noon: Century Farms program
1 p.m.: Paw Patrol meet and greet
1 p.m.: Midway opens
5 p.m.: Demolition derby
8 p.m.: Pop 2000 Tour with special guest Hicktown Mafia
SUNDAY
10 a.m.: Ecumenical church service
2-5 p.m.: Wendinger Polka Band
1-5 p.m.: Wristband day
1:30 p.m.: Kids’ pedal pull
5:30 p.m.: Redwood Speedway races
6 p.m.: Midway closes