Prairie Days Full of Historic Demonstrations

Come to Prairie Days at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on Saturday, September 27th from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, September 28th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and check out all of the free demonstrations occurring around the festival grounds. There are many new attractions this year as well as the return of your annual favorites. You can see apple butter being made over an open fire or help make fresh apple cider on a cider press. Wander through the encampment area and catch a glimpse of various camping styles from the late 18th century including anything from diamond flies to wall tents. Check out the assortment of tools from the era that the longhunters and other woodsmen would have traveled with on their journeys. You can also watch the campers compete in several camp competitions including a tomahawk and knife throwing contest. Visit the trading post, see wooden shingles being made or take a look at a display of 18th century firearms.

As you continue your stroll around the grounds, you will see blacksmiths at work, a beekeeper tending to honeybees, lye soap being made, a dugout canoe in the process of being completed and corn shredding demonstrations from antique farm machinery. Outside of the log house, you will see various pioneer demonstrations throughout each day. Butter Making, Flint Knapping, Leather Working and Pioneer Clothing are just a few you may see. As you head inside the log house, you will find pioneers cooking over the hearth while others are busy weaving, quilting, tatting and using alpaca and sheep’s wool for yarn work. Don’t forget to wander into the school house where the school marm will bring you back to the disciplines of the one room school house of yesteryear. School will be in session all day along with a Spelling Bee at 1pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Bring the entire family out to Prairie Days to see firsthand many of the skills that may not be so common anymore, but were vital to everyday life in days gone by. This year we also welcome the Western Ohio Gourd Patch as they will have several vendors that will have their goods on display. For more information on everything that Prairie Days has to offer, call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 or visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org