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Prairie Days at
Shawnee Prairie
Step through a wrinkle in time to experience life on the Ohio frontier.
On the weekend of September 23rd and 24th the Darke County Park
District will host its annual Prairie Days festival at Shawnee Prairie
Preserve at 4267 St. Rt. 502 West near Greenville. As festival
attendants wander through the grounds they’ll hear the ring of the
blacksmith’s hammer on the anvil, smell fresh bread baking in the
outdoor oven, and see long hunters tending their fires in the woodland
encampment.
Come watch apple butter made over the fire, play children’s pioneer
games, view local artists’ works, enjoy live music and entertainment.
This year there will be performances by The Darke County Civic Theatre
on Saturday at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm and Sunday at 3:30 pm. The Silver
Grass Band will perform on Saturday at 1:00pm. Sunday at 1pm, enjoy the
stories of Johnny Appleseed as he passes through Prairie Days during
his journeys. Also on Sunday, we welcome back the Thien Snipps Band who
will perform at 2pm.
Between acts, sit-a-spell with the pioneer volunteers in the log house
or try your hand at candle-making, tin-smithing, and more! Take a
stroll through the 18th century encampment and watch a tomahawk and
knife throwing competition. Don’t forget to visit the Greenville FFA
and their farm animal petting zoo for the young and young-at-heart to
learn and enjoy. Be sure to take a lap around the festival with a horse
and wagon ride provided by Carrs Belgians.
Calling all bakers! Prepare your best pie to enter in the Friends
of the Darke County Parks’ pie-baking contest held Saturday at
9:30am! Just $2/pie to enter in any (or all!) of the following
categories: Apple, Peach, Berry, or Other. Be sure to
submit pies in a disposable pan and we cannot accept meringue or
refrigerated pies. Winner takes home a cash prize!
There will also be a wide variety of food to choose from. Take a load
off as you enjoy fresh produce from Downing’s Fruit Farm, an ice cream
cone from Just Ice Cream, or visit one of the non-profit vendors
serving a wide variety of foods for lunch, snacks, and more!
Feeling lucky? Enter our annual basket raffle before you leave! Baskets
this year include themes such as Paddling, Kitchen, Gardening, and Bird
Watching!
We hope to see you next weekend (September 23 & 24) at Shawnee
Prairie Preserve where admission and parking are FREE!
Transportation from the main parking areas will once again be provided
by Greenville Transit System (GTS). Parking areas will be well marked
with plenty of signage. This will make getting to and from the parking
area to the festival grounds quick, effective, and safe for all family
members. Handicap parking will once again be available in the paved lot
at the Nature Center. (Please be sure to have your Handicap Placard
visible).
For more information, call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165 or visit
the website at www.darkecountyparks.org
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