BRANDON, S.D. - Fiddlers, homestead living, pioneer farming, Civil War soldiering, pioneer crafts and outdoor cooking will greet visitors to Beaver Creek Nature Area near Brandon on Sunday, Sept. 9.

From 1 to 4 p.m. CDT, the park will host the 34th Annual Homesteader Day Harvest Festival. The event attracts thousands of visitors of all ages each year who want a taste of homestead life and pioneer living history. 

According to District Park Supervisor Travis Theilen, the afternoon’s activities showcase what life was like when the prairies of Dakota Territory were being settled.

“At the Homesteader Day Harvest Festival, we give people a chance to experience first-hand the sights, sounds and smells of a time more than 100 years ago,” said Theilen. “It’s gratifying to watch young kids stare in amazement while older folks reminisce about life when they were young.”

Visitors can watch teams of horses go about the tasks of plowing, cultivating, seeding and harvesting the old-fashioned way. Visitors can also take part in homestead crafts like candle and rope making, Dutch oven cooking, and butter making. Other demonstrations will include rosemaling, wood carving, chair caning and pioneer games. “We will also have a blacksmith this year,” Theilen added.

The historic 1870s Samuelson homestead cabin will be open for viewing, including a display of farming tools and cabin furnishings. And all the while, the air will be filled with the sounds of the South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers, who have been a part of the event for its entire 34-year run.

Admission to the Homesteader Day Harvest Festival is free. The event is made possible by the support of Siouxland Heritage Museums, Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and many dedicated volunteers.

Beaver Creek Nature Area is located southeast of Brandon, one-half mile west of the intersection of 484th Avenue and 264th Street. For more information, contact Palisades State Park at 605-594-3824. For more information on South Dakota State Parks, visit www.gfp.sd.gov or call 605-773-3391.

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