Pioneer Days is returning to the MHV in full force

The Mennonite Heritage Village is excited to host a full-blown Pioneer Day's weekend once again.  

Program Manager Robert Goertzen says there's a lot going on this year. 

“We did have some limited demonstrations in past years when we had limited attendance but this is our full Pioneer Days weekend. It is a three-day event this year, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We have got full demonstrations on Saturday and on Monday, the outdoor ones like the field demonstrations, sawmill demonstrations, windmill, all of that is going on and we are really excited about it.”  

Sunday also has a host of special events. Goertzen says the Southeast Draft Horse Association will be helping all weekend with wagon rides and field demonstrations and then on Sunday afternoon, they have a special presentation planned. 

"They are going to have a show in our horse ring which is just behind the farmyard. It is going to be a one or one-and-a-half-hour show where they do different things with their teams to show how their horses and how their drivers work together to accomplish things. That is going to be neat.” 

Also on Sunday, Goertzen adds “We have an old colony worship service happening at 11 AM so following the traditions of the 1800's Mennonites who came here, it won't be exactly the same but it will follow in the same style. Then at 3 PM there our traditional saengerfest is coming back and that is going to be in the auditorium.” 

Goertzen says the saengerfest will be a hymn-sing with full audience participation.  

The Pioneer Days weekend will be by daily admission except for those that have a season pass or membership.  

Goertzen says they have been eagerly awaiting Pioneer Day's full return at the MHV and now it's finally here.