COLUMN: Village News – Pioneer Days – A celebration of Mennonite history

Pioneer Days is the Mennonite Heritage Village’s largest event of the summer. It is a three-day celebration of history where visitors are immersed in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the village. Without a wonderful team of volunteers backing up the MHV staff, this event would not be possible.

The three days that comprise MHV’s Pioneer Days festival are full of pioneer demonstrations, live music, great food, and fun for the whole family. During Pioneer Days, history comes alive. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday each boast their own daily features with no shortage of activities and adventures to participate in. On Saturday, watch our talented volunteers bake bread in the outdoor oven and check out the Mid-Summer Market in the auditorium. On Sunday, immerse yourself in the past by attending the Old Colony Worship Service in the Old Colony Church, and then enjoy the afternoon at the the Southeast Manitoba Draft Horse Association horse show and the Sangerfest hymn sing. On Monday, watch “And When They Shall Ask,” the award-winning docu-drama of the Mennonites’ sojourn in Russia from 1788 to the present. Remember to check out the pioneer demonstrations! Where else can you watch a blacksmith hard at work at the forge; eat a delicious waffle made on 100-year-old waffle irons; see the threshing machine in operation; and watch the steam engine drive around the village? Pioneer Days is a celebration, and we hope you’ll join us.

Behind every featured activity, demonstration, or interpretation stands a talented and dedicated team of volunteers. Our volunteers are the backbone of our events and festivals, and without them, Pioneer Days would be impossible to host. The man in the blacksmith shop, the lady churning butter, the men and women baking bread in the outdoor oven, the schoolteachers in the schoolhouses, the admissions attendants and parking attendants – all these and many more are our amazing volunteers. Because of their dedication to the Mennonite Heritage Village, we can continue to host our events and festivals.

It takes a village to make the Mennonite Heritage Village come to life, and we would love for you to join the team. Whether you have an interest in history or not, we have a place for you. As of right now, we are still looking for volunteers to fill various spots for Pioneer Days. If you would like to partner with us in the wonderful work that we do to preserve and exhibit the story and experience of the Russian Mennonites, please reach out about volunteer opportunities. You can email or call Jaysa Thiessen at jaysat@mhv.ca or 204-326-9661. Make Pioneer Days a memorable long weekend by joining the village here at the MHV and helping us host another wonderful event.

Upcoming events

May to September – The museum, the Livery Barn Restaurant, the General Store, and Village Books and Gifts are open seven days per week.

Open daily until 5 p.m. – Gerhard Ens Gallery new exhibit is open: Mennonite Medicine: Cures and Curiosities – 1800 to 1950.

Aug. 1 to 3 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Annual Pioneer Days Festival. Celebrate the 152nd anniversary of Mennonites arriving in Manitoba this summer during the August long weekend at our Pioneer Days festival! Immerse yourself in the life of early Mennonites in Manitoba and explore their rich history through hands-on demonstrations, steam-powered threshing, live music, and delicious food. Experience the stories that shaped the beginnings of the Mennonite community in Manitoba.

Aug. 15 – Peace Trek 5km Community Walk – The Mennonite Heritage Village and the Eden Foundation are excited to announce the new Peace Trek 5K Community Fundraising Walk. Join the community and walk to support hope, healing, and heritage.

Registration is free, and all funds that you raise go directly to the mission of MHV and Eden Foundation. Be a part of this brand-new event, reimagined for our community. Register or donate here: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/mennonite-heritage-village-canada-inc/p2p/peacetrek-26/

Sept. 3 – 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Books, Borscht and Blues – Enjoy a soup buffet from the Livery Barn Restaurant and enjoy the sound of Manitoba-grown artists; the award-winning Ollee Owens, and the dynamic duo of Big Dave McLean and Dan Thiessen.