The Schoolhouse Little House on the Prairie Festival

Hello Little House friends. I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have left so many kind comments, emails, and DMs. I am trying to respond to each and every one. Today’s post, The Schoolhouse Little House on the Prairie Festival, is the third post in a planned series of six featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the recent 50th Anniversary celebrations in Simi Valley. 

The Schoolhouse Little House on the Prairie Festival

As I mentioned in the two previous posts, The Little House and Oleson’s Mercantile, each of the sets at the festival were set up like a soundstage. There were even vintage Panavision cameras positioned to provide guests with the feeling of visiting an actual Little House set. 

I arrived on Tuesday morning before the festival began to set up the costume collection. The team of Eric Caron, Derek Hecker, Olan Paz, Lisa Kavarian Hiatt, Monica Bagnara, and Dana R. Amann had created pure magic in creating the sets. 

Even the bare set design brought tears to my eyes.

 Then Prop and Set Dressers Melanie Schultze-Cavanessand Gretchen Morales brought the school room to life with all the very authentic looking accessories!

Miss Beadle’s Desk

For me, this image will always make me think of my beloved Miss Beadle. 

Did you know that Charlotte Stewart and I have another connection beyond Walnut Grove involving peach orchards?

You can read about it HERE. 

This desk brought such a smile to the faces of many.

Pot Belly Bliss

Turning around you could see the charming stove. 

As well as a wonderful assortment of lunch pails and hats left by the students. 

Class Is In Session

What a thrill it was when Miss Beadle announced that class was in session!

This Laura Ingalls was absolutely not late to class!

I wish I would have known that Ms. Stewart was going to do this as we could have dressed her up! 

Any guesses as to who my handsome desk mate was?

It was Brian Part who played Mr. Edward’s son, Carl! Mr. Part now works as a talented musician. 

Willie 

Unlike Baby, everyone wants to put Willie Oleson in the corner. 

Jonathan Gilbert still has his comedic chops. He was such a good sport and so kind!

Losing My Mind

It was an absolute THRILL to see almost all of Walnut Grove’s school teachers all together. 

Miss Etta Plum (Leslie Landon Matthews) Miss Eva Beadle (Charlotte Stewart) and Eliza Jane Wilder (Lucy Lee Flippen). 

My son’s lovely fiancée, Megan, filled in as Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

A side note: Thank you to all those who have inquired if I can make them a Sweet 16 dress. I am currently not taking commissions at this time as I am still working on adding additional Little House characters to the costume collection.

Your favorite LHOTP characters will be touring throughout this 50th anniversary year at some of the celebration events planned by Along The Gravel Road. 

The Two Laura’s 

I did get to visit with the wonderful Melissa Gilbert when she graciously stopped by the costume exhibit.

Ms. Gilbert was wearing some of the lovely pieces from her fabulous Modern Prairie clothing collection line. 

I hope you have enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the Walnut Grove schoolhouse set.

You are welcome to use the images taken by me in this post. If you share them on social media could you please credit either myself, Laura Ingalls Gunn, or my website.

So thankful for my Little House circle of friends,

Laura

Other Posts You May Enjoy

The Little House Set

The Mercantile

The Costume Collection

Big Sky Movie Ranch Tour

You can view numerous reels on my Instagram page. 

There is also a video on my YouTube channel.