Step back in time at Three Lakes Pioneer Days

Residents and visitors alike are invited to step into the shoes of Wisconsin’s early settlers during Three Lakes Pioneer Days, a hands-on, family-friendly event set for Tuesday, July 22, from noon to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Three Lakes Historical Museum.

Sponsored by Storybook Gardens and the Three Lakes Historical Society, the event offers guests of all ages a chance to experience life in the 1880s through a variety of demonstrations and activities that showcase how pioneers lived, worked, and played.

This old-fashioned afternoon of learning and fun is the brainchild of Beth Jacobson and Mari Lynn Garbowicz, retired teachers and longtime friends who also run Storybook Gardens.

“From the get-go, we’ve always dreamed about hosting events,” Jacobson told the News-Review earlier this summer. “And I used to do Pioneer Day in my classroom once a year — I taught fourth-grade history in Wisconsin. So that was part of where we pulled from regarding what to do.”

During the interactive afternoon, visitors will have the chance to meet a blacksmith, trapper, logger, spinner, local historians, and tribal members from the Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl of Lac du Flambeau.

Guests can try their hand at old-fashioned chores, enjoy storytime, play historic games, and make take-home crafts. Children will experience a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse and learn about the toys and candies enjoyed by kids in the 1800s.

There will also be a dress-up and photo booth where visitors can pose in period attire.

Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in pioneer clothing — but even if you show up in 2025 style, Pioneer Days promises an afternoon full of fun and learning.

Pioneer Days will take place at the Three Lakes Historical Museum, 1798 Huron St., and is made possible in part through support from the Three Lakes Community Foundation.

For more information, call 715-546-2295.