Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Prairie Life and Connection to Illinois

Barrington’s own Patty Dowd Schmitz along with historic figure actress Laura Keyes and fiddler Mary Pat Kleven present music, costumes, and stories from the life of “Little House on the Prairie” novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Schmitz will present the little-known history of Wilder’s family as original pioneer settlers of Kane County, Illinois in the 1840s and 1850s (in the South Elgin area near Randall Road); Keyes will portray stories and costumes from Wilder’s prairie times; and Kleven will perform fun fiddle music that Laura’s father, Charles Ingalls, would have played during his time as a young boy in Illinois, including Old Dan Tucker, Miss McLeod’s Reel, and more.

This program provides a wonderful look at Wilder’s life and times for both children and adults; a question-and-answer session will follow the program. Entertaining both for die-hard “Laura” fans as well as those who may not be as familiar with “Little House on the Prairie.”