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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 29th and 30th 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 as apple butter is 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, followed
by Steve Madewell’s performance at 4pm. Starting Sunday’s stage
performances will be the Ramblin’ Rovers are on at 12pm. Next up on
stage at 2pm, enjoy the stories of Johnny Appleseed as he passes
through Prairie Days during his journeys.
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!
The Friends of the Parks are requesting donations to help make this
event shine! Can you help us out? All donations can be dropped at the
Nature Center at Shawnee Prairie Preserve Monday - Saturday 9a-5pm
beginning today. Donations should be delivered no later than September
22.
~Canned Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mt. Dew and 7-up
~Bottled Water
~Tealight candles
~Saltine crackers
~Clean soup cans
~Fresh herbs: (not to be delivered until Sept. 27 or 28): Thyme,
Rosemary, Mint, Lavender, Lemon balm, Sage
We hope to see you Prairie Days weekend (September 29 & 30) 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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