THEATER ON THE PRAIRIE × DE SMET, SOUTH DAKOTA
New for 2024!
Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories
July 5, 6, 7 • 12, 13, 14 • 19, 20, 21
Gates Open 6PM • Performance at 8PM
A new era comes to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant prairie stage! Debuting in summer 2024, Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories is the first of three installments in our new series of summer theatrical productions. Join Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, as they craft Laura’s childhood memories of the founding of De Smet and homesteading with her family into the beloved Little House books. Prairie Girl: Laura’s Dakota Stories follow the Ingalls family’s move to Dakota Territory to help build the railroad. They enjoy winter in the Surveyor’s House as Laura treasures the lighthearted days of childhood.
Held on our outdoor, prairie stage overlooking the Big Slough and cottonwood trees planted by Charles Ingalls. This prairie setting highlights the simple beauty of Laura’s stories.
Admission
$15 Adults • $10 Children ages 6-12 • Children ages 5 &under Free
No advance purchase necessary for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Performance in De Smet. The show does not sell out and we do not turn guests away
Your donation is greatly apprecaited!
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant appreciates your continued support in preserving Laura’s legacy!
DonateHow we operate
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society in De Smet, South Dakota is a 501(c)3. We are managed by an active, all-volunteer board of directors. We provide compensation to pivotal roles in the theatrical production and for grounds maintenance. Community members from De Smet and surrounding towns step up each year to welcome our guests and make each show a success.
Thank you for your Generousity
Your donation fully and directly supports the operation of our organization. From our first outdoor performance in 1971 through today, we have been and continue to be committed to providing an enjoyable family-friendly theatrical experience that showcases Laura Ingalls Wilder stories and our South Dakota pioneer heritage!
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!
Laura & Almazo - $1,000+
Ingalls Homestead
De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance Company of South Dakota
American Bank & Trust
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society
B. Poppen Agency
Prairie Ag Partners
South Dakota Farmers Union
Half-Pint - $500- $1,000
DeSCo Architectural
Super Deluxe Inn & Suites
De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse
De Smet Event & Wellness Center
Lyle Signs
Maynards Food Center
UltiMed
Jack the Bulldog - $250
Bernie’s Barber Shop & Wards Store & Bakery
De Smet Flowers & Gifts & the Loftus Store
Kingsbury Journal
Klinkell’s III Bar & Grill
Legend Seeds
Rhonda Siefker, EA
Prairie House Manor
We sincerely appreciate all of the businesses and organizations who have generously provided financial support. If your organization or business are interested in a sponsorship, please contact us.
Planning Your Visit to De Smet
We are glad you're considering coming to De Smet for the performance. There are other 'Laura’ sites to visit in De Smet and we have found that visitors often spend an entire day in De Smet. Please don't hesitate to call or email if you have questions about all there is to do and see in town. A list of attraction, lodging, and dining information is below.
800-776-3594 or 800-880-3383
Be sure to visit the helpful City of De Smet website when planning your trip.
Attractions
Lodging in De Smet
Cottage Inn Motel - 605-203-0410
Other Area Lodging
Hometown Motel - 605-625-5226: located in Willow Lake, SD
Arlington Inn - 605-983-4609; located in Arlington, SD
Prairie Retreat B&B - 605-625-5085; located near Bryant, SD
Camping
Lake Thompson Recreation Area - 605-847-4893
Ingalls Homestead - 800-776-3594
Washington Park - 605-854-3731
The SPOT Campground - 605-854-3982
Jerry's Country Estates - 605-854-3243
Dining
Concessions available on our grounds beginning at 6pm
Oxbow Restaurant - 800-854-9988
Half-Pint Grill & Pub - 605-854-9129
Ward's Store and Bakery - 605-854-3688
De Smet Mercantile & Coffeehouse - (605) 860-2683
Dairy Queen - 605-854-9000
Wheatie's Sports Bar - 605-854-3715
Klinkel’s III - 605-854-9171
Cowboy Country Store - 605-854-3553
The Main Stop - 605-854-3200
Maynard's Grocery - 605-854-3432
3rd annual radio christmas play held December 9, 2023
Watch it now on facebook - here!
What an enjoyable Saturday evening! Our cast did an amazing job bringing the spirit of Badger Clark to life on state at the Midstate Theater!
Badger Clark (1883-1957) was a cowboy poet the first poet laureate of South Dakota. He traveled the state giving public addresses and sharing his poetry and wisdom. If you would like to learn more about Badger Clark, we suggest the new documentary by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Badger Clark: Poet Among the Pines.
We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous financial support of this year’s production. We received grants from Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is support by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contribution by the South Dakota Endowment of the Arts, and the Mary Chilton Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution through the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
We also appreciate the generous donation of a fabulous cowboy hat for Badger Clark’s costume from Double D Western and Tack in Huron, SD.
We would also like to thank South Dakota Public Broadcasting for their partnership! They generously travel to De Smet, record our performance, and have shared it on television and radio. Thank you SDPB! We appreciate all you do for South Dakota!
watch our earlier radio plays Here!
Pageant History
1951 Families gathered around their radios to listen to the Hallmark Playhouse presentation of "The Long Winter." If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can still find it here!
1955 After receiving permission from Hallmark Playhouse to use its script, local actors performed "The Long Winter" in the high school auditorium at no charge to the public.
1968 As part of the summer arts festival, local actors once again performed "The Long Winter" in the high school auditorium. People poured in, and extra chairs were brought in from the Lutheran Church, and still more people continued to come in.
1971 Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the 1968 production, a group of local volunteers developed plans for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, an outdoors family drama to celebrate the life and writings of our home town author. Several local civic organizations-- the Kiwanis, Jaycees, and Chamber of Commerce assisted in the production.
1973 The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society was founded, a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of Laura's legacy.
1974 The LIW Pageant Society purchased thirty acres of land to become the pageant's permanent home. This beautiful section of land is nestled between the Ingalls Homestead, the big slough, and Silver Lake.
Over the years, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant has become a local tradition. Each summer more than a hundred volunteers combine their talents to present a family-friendly drama based on the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. People from all over the world gather together on the beautiful South Dakota prairie and step back into history to a time when the West was just opening up to a wave of pioneering men and women. It is our goal to preserve--through drama--the family values and pioneering spirit of the Ingalls family.
Get Involved!
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant thrives because of the generous time and talent of many individuals. If you are interested in getting involved, we’d love to have you help. Contact us here, or reach out to use on social media.
ACTORS & TECHNICAL CREW
We are always on the look out for actors and technical help. Auditions are generally held in late April or early May. We place announcements here, on our website, via our social media channels, and in regional newspapers and on radio stations.
VOLUNTEERS
Looking to be involved in the pageant, but not comfortable with the acting or tech duties? Hosting visitors from around the world every summer requires a many helping hands. If you are interested, we are always excited to find volunteers to help greet visitors, hand out programs, help in the concession stand, register visitors for our book giveaways, and park cars to name a few duties. Reach out to use via phone, email, or on social media and we’ll be in touch!
Our organization
For over 50 years, we have worked to share Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories and history with visitors from around the world. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed in 1971. Our Board of Directors includes Kristy Hubbard (President), Jim Pekron (Vice President), Jenny Todd (Secretary), Eric Fairchild (Treasurer), Snookie Stoddard, Susan Thomas, Kathy Ostrander, Dedra Birzer, and Megan Ostrander, with honorary board members Curt Bau, Tim Sullivan, and Marian Cramer.
Our financial information is available for review at the following links. 2022 990
Contact Us
PHONE
We are a small non-profit organization. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society and the Ingalls Homestead graciously field phone calls for us. They can answer any questions you have about attending the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant or visiting the De Smet area.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society - 800-880-3383
Ingalls Homestead - 800-776-3594
Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society
PO Box 154
De Smet, SD 57231
Email us directly or use the form below.
desmetpageant [@] gmail.com