WALNUT GROVE– The Wilder Outdoor Theater has confirmed several live guest interviews as part of the celebration of “Laura’s Prairie Summer, the Wilder Pageant’s miniseries of scenes and information about Laura Ingalls Wilder. There are also two “Prairie Challenges” to encourage you and your family to join us online in our celebration of the 43rd year

We will be visiting with authorities on Laura Ingalls Wilder and her pioneer childhood live via Zoom. We encourage audience questions via our email at PrairieChallenge@gmail.com.

Friday, July 10, Dale Cockrell, a specialist in American popular music will share his work as founder of “The Pa’s Fiddle Project,” an educational program dedicated to recording music of the “Little House” books and reconnecting the nation’s children with the rich music legacies embedded in them. He is the author of fourteen books and editions in addition to many articles and reviews. Dale is Professor Emeritus of Musicology at Vanderbilt University and a Research Associate of the University the Free State (South Africa).

Saturday, July 11, Sarah S. Utoff, a respected authority on Laura Ingalls Wilder, one-room schools, historic foodways, and living history will speak about her many Laura projects. She is a dominant online presence in the Laura Ingalls Wilder World with her Trundlebed Tales site and its many related connections. Uthoff is an active Wilder researcher and a well-known Wilder authority and sought after speaker.

LAURA’S PRAIRIE CHALLENGE! If you are more than a coach potato and want to get in the stream with us, request information and apply to enter email us at LaurasPrairieChallenge@gmail.com

More than Laura-Nellie Contest. On Zoom you will be interviewed and asked to demonstrate some pioneer skills including (but not limited to) questions about Laura Ingalls Wilder and demonstrate a talent such as baking vanity cakes, dancing with your parents or even singing a song like ‘Ol Dan Tucker! We will do an initial round via Zoom and choose great performances to share live on our Youtube and Facebook Channels.

Pa Ingalls Look-A Like Contest. Not to leave anyone without a chance to share, we are looking for recent images of you that look like Pa Ingalls. Email pictures. Must be suitable for children. We will do a live interview with the winner.

Deadline for emails to LaurasPrairieChallenge@gmail.com is July 9. Laura’s Prairie Summer will be live at 7 p.m. July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25. Check the Wilder Pageant webpage at walnutgrove.org and the Facebook page for frequent updates.