The prairie attire of girls entered in the Laura Look-A-Like Contest in Walnut Grove.
CALICO SKIRTS SKIM bare legs. Bonnets brush braids. Charlotte rag dolls tuck into crooks of arms and lunch pails dangle from clenched hands.
Each contestant is asked where she traveled from, whether she’s visited other “Laura” sites and whether she’s attended the “Wilder Pageant.” Then each drew a Little House-related question from a lunch pail.
And Laura look-a-likes step up to the microphone during the Laura Look-A-Like Contest Saturday afternoon in Walnut Grove, the southwestern Minnesota childhood home of author Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I am in the city park with my husband and mother to meet my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their 9-year-old daughter who have driven from North Dakota for this weekend celebration of all things Little House.
My niece’s entry number. No, there were not 57 contestants. This is just the identifying number tag she was handed after I paid a $5 entry free and she registered.
At the last minute, my niece decides to enter the Laura competition and she scrambles to complete an entry form while the other girls are already answering questions about themselves and the Little House books.
My niece considers her randomly drawn question: What’s another name for a leech? She gets a little help with the answer.
Soon Beth joins the other Lauras on the grass, eventually taking her place in line to move up to the mic. I can sense her nervousness. She momentarily forgets that she lives near Grand Forks and that she’s seen the Wilder Pageant, an outdoor production featuring snippets from the Little House books, the previous evening. She hesitates again after pulling her question—What’s another name for leeches?—from a lunch bucket. (Bloodsuckers would be the answer.)
Laura contestants with bonnets, braids and prairie dresses.
I am incredibly proud of Beth for joining the fun. And fun it is to see all of these 8 to 12-year-olds who have journeyed to the prairie from all parts of the country because they appreciate the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Four of the finalists in the Laura Look-A-Like contest. The fifth finalist was found shortly after I took this photo.
Beth doesn’t win the contest and, because of another commitment, we must leave before the top five finalists begin presenting a skit.
The Laura Look-A-Like contestants gather for a group shot in the park.
But my niece gathers with the other Lauras next to a brick building as the official photographer, along with a contingent of adoring parents, grandparents and at least one proud aunt, photograph the Laura look-a-likes.
If the contestants were chosen solely on which most resembled my image of Laura, it would have been this girl. She possesses that “look” which seems most like the Laura I imagine from the books.
FYI: Walnut Grove’s annual July celebration of all things Little House continues two more weekends, July 19-20 and July 26-27. The Laura-Nellie Look-A-Like Contest is part of the Family Festival, set again for 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays, July 20 and 27, in the city park. The Look-A-Like Contest starts at 3 p.m. with prizes based on overall appearance and knowledge of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Nellie Oleson, Laura’s nemesis.
The Family Festival features an abundance of activities for kids, plus music, re-enactments, arts and crafts, demonstrations of old-time activities, author visits, pony rides and more. I’d highly recommend attending. I’ll show you additional fest images tomorrow.
Other attractions in Walnut Grove include the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, several shops and a mural.
About a mile north of town, visitors can see the site of the Ingalls’ family dug-out along the banks of Plum Creek.
But the highlight for most is the Wilder Pageant, performed Friday and Saturday evenings, beginning at 9 p.m., in an outdoor amphitheater just outside of town. I’ve seen this locally-produced show, which features a horse-pulled covered wagon, a prairie fire and more, several times. It’s outstanding. Four more performances are set for July 19, 20, 26 and 27. I’d recommend reservations. If you are traveling from afar, be aware that you likely will have to travel some distance to find a hotel room. Walnut Grove does not have a hotel and the nearest one in Lamberton is likely already booked. There’s camping at Plum Creek Park, a Redwood County park near the pageant site. But this fills quickly, especially on pageant weekends. Reservations are recommended.
Click here to read more details about the Little House celebration in Walnut Grove.
BONUS PHOTOS:
Far fewer girls competed in the Nellie Oleson Look-A-Like contest. Clearly, few want to role play the mean Nellie. But look how these girls played the haughty Nellie to the hilt as a group photo was taken.
Take two of the Nellie look-a-likes.
What grandpa won’t do for his granddaughter.
Lots of families watched the Laura and Nellie contests and spent hours at the kid-oriented Family Festival in the park.
Too young for the Look-A-Like Contest, but still outfitted in prairie girl clothing.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
What perfect timing, Audrey! We are going to to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Festivities this weekend. I remember going as a kid and now I’m taking my three children. After looking at these adorable pictures, I’m even more excited! Congrats to your niece for participating last minute. It can be hard to be in the spotlight! Looking forward to seeing more pictures tomorrow!
Erin, you and your kids are going to love the family festival. Once you see my photos tomorrow you will be even more excited. The volunteers in this community do a fantastic job with this fest. We were only in town for about two hours, mostly to meet family from North Dakota. So certainly we did not see all there is to do.
What great fun this looks like!!! I think you captured the entire tone of the contest with those pictures of those sweet girls (even the Nellie look a likes!). Sure sounds like a great place for a family to spend an afternoon with their prairie daughters!
That’s what I kept thinking. What a great family activity. And those girls, so sweet, even the Nellies.
This looks like so much fun. Thanks for sharing! That’s great that your niece joined in on the fun! And great timing, as I was invited to a Little House themed birthday party tomorrow night!
Kristen, have you ever been to Walnut Grove? If not, you MUST go.
A Little House themed bday party sounds like great fun. Is this for a child or an adult? You ought to blog about it. Hint, hint.
I have not been to Walnut Grove, but I think I better go!
The party is for someone turning 63. Every year his wife throws him a themed surprise birthday party, and they’re always a blast! I’ve been attending the parties my whole life. I probably ought to blog about it!
What a lovely, lovely wife. I want to attend this party. It sounds like a great story. Yes, blog about it, Kristen.
My daughter attended a birthday party last summer in rural Decorah, Iowa, where everyone brings cakes for the bday girl. There are tables and tables and tables of cakes set up in a field and a huge bonfire. And I want to be invited to this annual event, too.
And, yes, get Thee to Walnut Grove. You would love everything about this celebration, especially the pageant and the dug-out site and the festival…
What a stinkin cute post!
That’s a great description, Bernie. Those Lauras and Nellies are adorable, as is grandpa holding the doll.
What a Great Post – loving the captures – the girl in the final photo has the best freckles! I have to agree the one girl is a ringer look a like for Laura and the Nellie’s seem to have it going on too. Thanks so much for sharing – Happy Tuesday:)
Oh, yes, those freckles–that’s what drew me to photograph her. And that girl I pegged as “the Laura” has that look. Yup, the Nellies were truly playing the role.
I just noticed the dolls in the photos – cute:) I hope this girl embraces her freckles and does not try to cover them up as she gets older.
So many of the girls were carrying dolls. I agree about the freckles. She’s adorable with those freckles.
[…] Definitely a great reason to see the play! (Who wants to go with me? Mom?) Also, thanks to Audrey’s post over at Minnesota Prairie Roots this morning, I would love to go to Walnut Grove to take in the […]
Thanks for the shout-out on Cheery Hill Cottage. Readers, check out this Owatonna based blogger.
Very cute! I loved the books when I was a girl.
I really should read the books again. It’s probably been 20 years since I read them to my girls.
Love the “Nellies” (but, then, I kinda could relate to her!!
I don’t know if I would have pegged you as a Nellie type. But, if you say so.
Oh yes! I’m sneaky that way! On the surface so much wanting to be a “people pleaser” and underneath wanting to be accepted by any means and if not…..well, the “Nellie” side came out (I’m speaking of my young childhood days, of course!! LOL!).
Oh, we all have a bit of Nellie in us.
;-}
Loved this post, all the darling little “look-alikes”, Wow they really went all out to look like the girls on the prairie. You really captured some great shots Audrey, The Look-alike Nellies, cracked me up, such a bunch of characters 🙂
Yes, those Lauras are darling, those Nellies a fun-loving bunch. You will need to take Audrey to this some day, after you’ve read the book series to her. She’d be the right age to start with the Little House books.