History will once again come to life during the Wild Rose Draft Horse Field and Pioneer Days.
The annual event takes place June 4 and 5 at the Double Tree Village Museum, just west of Spruce View.
“It gives people the chance to see draft horses working in the field and pulling the machinery,” said Anna Stanton, who co-owns Double Tree Village Museum with her husband Ray. “They can see what it was like (for people) when they first came west in the early 1900s.”
Gates open to the public at 9 a.m. on both days. Visitors to the event can enjoy a museum tour, heritage quilt displays, music, cowboy poetry, local exhibits, wagon rides to and from the draft horses working in the field, pack horse demonstrations, and a jam session Saturday afternoon starting at 5 p.m.
“If anyone wants to come and join in, they can certainly do that,” said Stanton. “There will also be a roast beef supper -- the Spruce View Lions Club is putting on a roast beef supper at that time.”
The two-day family event includes something for everyone she noted, including a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning with the sounds of country gospel music.
“The displays and demonstrations are mostly handicrafts. We have people coming here that do all the needlework and all the things that ladies used to do (back in that day) such as quilting,” said Stanton. “There'll be some quilts on show as well.”
Held every June for the past nine years, the annual Wild Rose Draft Horse Field and Pioneer Days provides an opportunity for families to learn about and experience some local history.
“We have draft horses right down to mini-horses, including Belgians (horses). There's lots for people to see,” said Stanton. “There's a lot of teamsters that come and bring their horses for this event, they're not all our horses. Teamsters are the drivers, a person that drives horses – they bring their horses and hook onto the implements,” said Stanton. “Last year we had 26 in the field at one time, hooked to different implements, and we had another 10 on wagons and buggies taking people for rides.”
The annual event has been a wonderful success every year and is enjoyed by all in attendance, noted Stanton.
“People think it's fantastic. When they come and see what we do, they really enjoy it,” she said. “It's quite laid back so you don't have to be hustling and bustling to take it all in.”
For more information call 403-728-3875 or visit www.doubletreevillage.com
