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Jul 4, 2008 10 am-5 pm
Take part in historic celebrations from the 19th and early 20th centuries as Old World Wisconsin turns back the clock. Enjoy old-fashioned games, a band concert, a patriotic hymn sing and a festive parade.
Some highlights of the event include:
- 10:30 am — Raising of the Flag, Harmony Town Hall
- 11:15 am — Band Concert, Village Grove
- 12:15 pm — Hymn Sing, St. Peter's Church
- 1 pm — Farmsteads and African-American Pioneer Area Close for the Independence Day Parade
- 1:30 pm — Independence Day Parade from Caldwell Hall to the Village Grove
- 2 pm — Patriotic Exercises in the Village Grove
- Immediately Following the Patriotic Exercises in the Village Grove — Greased Pole Climb, Pie-Eating Contest, Egg Toss and Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
- 10 am-1 pm & 3:15-5 pm — Additional games, demonstrations and activities will take place throughout the site.
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Jul 12, 2008 - Jul 13, 2008 10 am-5 pm
Experience life in a World War I army camp, including meal preparations, equipment inspections, medical examinations and weapons instruction. See the real uniform of a World War I soldier!
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Jul 12, 2008 - Jul 13, 2008 (times vary)
Old World Wisconsin's home team travels to Trimborn Farm in Greendale to take part in this vintage base ball (the sport was expressed as two names in the 1860s) tournament featuring eight Midwestern teams! The Eagle Diamonds base ball team is Old World Wisconsin's home team. Inspired by a local team organized in 1868, the Diamonds' uniforms, equipment and rules are the same as those of that time.
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Jul 26, 2008 - Jul 27, 2008 10 am-5 pm
It's a whole lot of Laura, at this hands-on celebration drawn from the pages of Laura Ingalls Wilder's On the Banks of Plum Creek. Dress like her, try her games and chores, help do Ma's kitchen jobs or Pa's threshing. There will be a look-a-like pageant at Caldwell Hall at 3 pm, too, and for those without a costume who wish to participate, there are prairie bonnets, aprons and dresses available to purchase at the museum store.
New this year: all kinds of animal, people, and steam-powered vintage machines at work. It's the charm of Laura Days plus the excitement of our former Power Exposition event.
Here are some other highlights of the day's activities:
- Caldwell Hall Education Center — making paper stars and the 3 pm look-a-like contest.
- Crossroads Village area — horse treadmill demonstration, Loomer Field; making a button necklace, Benson House; doing laundry outdoors, Hafford House; sampling horehound candy, Thomas General Store; blacksmiting demonstrations, Grotelueschen Blacksmith Shop; shoemaking demonstrations, Sisel Shoe Shop.
- Finn-Dane area — stacking wood, Ketola Farm; inspecting a root cellar, Ketola Root Cellar; pumping and fetching water, Pedersen Farm; jumping in the haystack, Jensen Barn (Pedersen Farm).
- Norwegian area — making the bed and playing Cat's Cradle, Fossebrekke House; using a slate to tell a story and recess activities, Raspberry School; Ring-Around the Rosy — Kvaale Farm.
- German area — washing dishes, Schulz House; baking a cake, Schottler House; sewing on a quilt square, Koepsell House; working steam engine and threshing machine, Schottler Field; oxen at work, throughout the site.