WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     WALNUT GROVE — The Wilder Pageant finished with a bang with over 2,500 patrons watching the pageant this past weekend. Committee members were very pleased with the overall turn out this year.

    Two years ago the committee voted to go from three performances  each weekend down to two performances. No one really knew how it might affect attendance and last year attendance was down significantly. But most attributed that to the high cost of fuel last year.



    This year the price of gas was down considerably, but the economy as a whole was also down significantly. Well, apparently the cheaper gas must have countered the  down economy. Not only was attendance up significantly (7,118) it out paced attendance from 2007 which was 7,018.

    Pageant committee member Errol Steffen was very happy with the numbers this year noting that they were up over 1,000 over last year.

    Steffen said “we had several people show up for the wrong night of performance, but the gals were able to exchange them.” Steffen thought not having rain or even a threat of rain helped the local ticket sales. “We have been fortunate to only have three rain outs in the past 32 years,” Steffen said.

    The performances went very well with one exception. “When we were building the church raising the steeple, the rope broke and sent the guys on the rope tumbling,”said Steffen. “Of course the hydraulically operated steeple kept right on rising.”

    Director Bill Richards commented, “the rope breaking was a significant humorous moment — the audience responded with laughter — the guys on the rope tumbled like dominoes.” Ron Kelsey said “it was no problem for him as he was on top. We might leave it in next year if it can be done safely.”

    Richards, who has directed the pageant  in the  past said, “overall I thought things went well. It’s like getting back on a horse after not riding for a while. It turned out good, and I am looking forward to doing it again next year, if they will put up with me again.”

    Amy Ankrum Wilder Museum director said, “this past weekend was the busiest of the three pageant weekends, but the crowds were spread out more during the day.”

    Ankrum said, “we had several visitors from Canada, England, and Ireland, and many states were represented. The people from the eastern states tend to come later in the season.”

    Sales were comparable with last year — we’re very happy with that,” she said.

    She said, “a lot of people to the east make this a stop on their way to Black Hills. We also get a lot of people that stop here from the south on their way to the Mall of America.”

    “Bill Anderson, author and Laura Ingalls Wilder authority,  gave a nice presentation at the park Saturday, and he signed a lot of autographs” said Ankrum.

    The community and the area make a huge commitment to the pageant and many other activities associated with it.         Thousands of  volunteer hours are spent by those involved. It takes a huge amount of time, nearly two months from first practice to the final performance. But when it is all done everyone involved can take a big pat on the back for all of their hard work.

    Behind the scenes there are virtually dozens of people that help to make this event successful. Concession workers, program sellers, souvenir sellers, ticket sales, lights, sound, props, parking attendants, those that put on the pageant suppers, museum workers, and those involved with the Family Festival Events. They are all a huge part of the success of the Wilder Pageant.

    Another new feature this year was the art shows of local artisans at the community center for the pageant suppers.

    This year  the last weekend was the biggest weekend with 2,549 seeing the pageant. The first weekend was the lowest attendance with 2,254. The second  weekend, the attendance was 2,315.  

    The various committees will be meeting to evaluate their projects to determine if any changes are to be made for the coming year.

    This past weekend The Family Festival had a really nice day. As usual there was plenty of things for the youngsters to do, and plenty of entertainment for the older folks. Author and Wilder historian Bill Anderson signed autographs and gave a presentation on Laura Ingalls

Wilder, and Lonesome Ron performed his cowboy songs and stories.  There were  craft vendors, bead making and plenty of food available.