Ash Hollow Pageant June 12-13

Friday, May 29, 2009
Actors prepare for the Ash Hollow Historical Pageant performed at Ash Hollow State Park. (Courtesy photo)

LEWELLEN -- The 17th Ash Hollow Pageant, to be held Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13th at Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen, portrays the first year of the Oregon Trail when pioneers, in search of a better life and land of their own, left the "States" for Oregon.

Letters from missionaries, Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and rousing speeches by Peter Burnett convinced about 1,000 people to form the first wagon train in 1843. "When father lost his farm he decided to go where he could have all the land he wanted...he visited a young lawyer, Peter Burnett, who advised him to go to Oregon," noted eleven-year-old Lucy Henderson.

The Ash Hollow Pageant, sponsored by Volunteers of America and Ash Hollow State Historical Park, begins at 6:30 and is free and open to the public. A Chuck Wagon Supper is available from 5:00 to 6:30 pm with beef, fry bread, beans and corn salad. No reservations. Cowboy Poet, Edd Clemens, will perform at the picnic area at 4:30pm. Self-drive tour information will be available at the park. Proceeds from the dinner, quilt raffle and program sales will support Volunteers of America -- Western Nebraska services including preschool, food pantry and health center.

People attending the pageant provide their own seating such as a lawn chair or blanket and will want to be prepared for the temperatures from hot to chilly in the evening. Bug repellent is also a good idea. Golf carts will be available for people who need a ride from their vehicles to the chuck wagon supper and the performance site. Handicap parking will also be available close to the performance site.

The Ash Hollow Pageant will be performed near the picnic area at Ash Hollow State Historical Park, 3 miles southeast of Lewellen, Nebraska. A park entry permit is required for each vehicle entering the park. The Lewellen Middle School on Hwy. 26 is the rain location.

For more information, contact Volunteers of America at 778-5548.

Lewellen Events

10-4 Quilt show -- United Methodist Church

Art show -- Volunteers of America

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