Pioneer Day Ideas

by: Shiloah Baker

Have a "Create a Pioneer" contest...

Everyone who would like to enter into the contest should find a pioneer to represent.   They should dress like them, have stories of them, etc.


Have a Pioneer Kitchen....

Have a certain number of men and women do some research about old pioneer recipes.  Have them make the foods and give samples and demonstrations.


Have a Parade

Invite everyone to dress up in Pioneer clothes and make their own wagons or bring horses and have a parade.  Stop somewhere and have lunch and perhaps some games and a dance.  Go into the evening and have a bon-fire!


Hold an old-time craft workshop, focusing on quilting, metal working, butter churning or bread making.

Conduct a "What is it" workshop. Have miscellaneous antique or period items for identification by an expert (e.g.. museum curator, or elder).

Hold a "How to..." session on genealogy, to assist people in tracing their family tree.

Stage a music recital or other performance, featuring traditional themes, folksongs, and ideally some older kinds of instruments.

Create a play or a series of skits for families or groups to perform.

Put on a fireworks display (expensive but a crowd pleaser; perhaps some local sponsors can be encouraged).

Have a Names Contest, where the origins of names have to be guessed (for example, Emma, for the John, Tom, etc.).

Have a Pioneer Costume Ball.

Arrange a display of vintage cars or older farm equipment.

Have an Essay Contest. Ask your local newspaper to commit to publishing the winner or other best entries. You could also publish them in the Ward Newsletter.

Have a book exchange, perhaps with a focus on books printed over 50 years ago, or books about the Pioneers, for example...