Har-Ber Village Museum Hosting Annual Pioneer Days October 6 and 7

Did you know that people actually survived life without cellphones, microwaves and the Internet?

Har-Ber Village Museum invites you to come experience what it was like to live without those items, as well as cars, fast food restaurants and televisions, during its fifth annual Pioneer Days event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7.

Each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the pioneer-era village and history museum in Grove will transport visitors back to a simpler, hands-on way of life. While exploring the village’s historic buildings and exhibits, visitors can watch live history demonstrations, meet living history reenactors and enjoy hands-on activities.

During Pioneer Days, volunteers will demonstrate various skills that made our pioneer ancestors self-reliant, including spinning, weaving, processing flax plants into linen, dying wool, flint knapping, sausage making, hearth cooking and baking, quilting, candle making, heirloom gardening, blacksmithing, tinsmithing and more.

Living history reenactors will teach visitors about early medical care and events of the Mexican War. They will also share pioneer stories.

Hands-on activities during Pioneer Days will allow younger Har-Ber Village Museum visitors to experience pioneer life first-hand. They will be able to create a quilt block, churn butter, make a candle, grind corn and make sausage. Young visitors will also be able to wash laundry on a scrub board, weave on a loom, play period games and make a pioneer toy.

On Friday, students will be able to attend school taught by a schoolmarm in the village schoolhouse.

On Saturday, Mary McCreery will demonstrate basket weaving, while craftsman Ken Vaughn demonstrates making items out of leather.

Throughout the day, Borderline Bluegrass will be playing period music in the village.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors to Pioneer Days will be able to participate in waulking the wool. Waulking is the technique of finishing newly woven tweed by soaking it and thumping it rhythmically to shrink and soften it — all done by hand in the old days.

Tintype photographer Professor Drummond will be taking pictures during the day as well.

Boy Scouts who participate in the Pioneer Days event can earn a special patch. Scouts should register at the front desk upon admission and complete the available activities to earn the patch.

Dinner and a Dance

The fun continues Saturday evening as Har-Ber Village Museum hosts its fourth annual Chuckwagon Dinner and Dance Under the Stars. Guests are encouraged to put on their western wear and prepare to kick up their heels.

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a “whet your whistle” social hour. Wine and beer will be available. The grub will be served at 7 p.m.

Prepared by Timbered-In Catering, the chuckwagon fare will include pulled pork, smoked chicken quarters, three-meat baked beans, cheesy potatoes, cole slaw and cornbread. Fruit cobbler and ice cream will provide a sweet ending to the delicious meal.

After dinner, guests can dance under the stars to the sounds of Stone Country. The popular band is returning to play its foot-tapping tunes.

If you would like Har-Ber Village Museum to hold you a place around the campfire, you can purchase tickets online at har-bervillage.com or call (918) 786-6445.

Tickets for the Chuckwagon Dinner and Dance Under the Stars are $75 per person. A table for 10 is available for $750 and includes free admission to Pioneer Days.

RSVP by Saturday, Sept. 30. Seating is limited to 150.

All Pioneers Days activities and demonstrations are free with museum admission, unless otherwise noted. Activities are subject to change based on availability of volunteers.

Har-Ber Village Museum admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors 63+ and $5 for children ages 6-13. Children under 6 and members are free.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Museum admission is not necessary to shop in The Country Store gift shop, to eat at The Cafe at Har-Ber Village or to walk the nature trail.