Events and Programs
Calendar of Events
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1 event,
Grounds closed for daytime experience
On October 28, we close the grounds to the general public and begin turning Conner Prairie into a winter wonderland for our holiday festival, A Merry Prairie Holiday, presented by Everwise Credit Union. Fridays through Sundays, November 29 – 30 and December 6 – 22, join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday, presented by Everwise Credit Union. Surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and celebrate the holidays in…
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
3 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
American Sign Language Tours at A Merry Prairie Holiday
American Sign Language Tours at A Merry Prairie Holiday
December 13 and 21, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. For guests who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, we will be offering ASL tours. Each tour will be guided by an ASL interpreter who will communicate between guests and historical interpreters. Groups will make stops at the Golden Eagle Inn, a campfire to warm up with songs and stories with Prairietown locals, the soiree at the Campbell House, the home of the Turner family to learn about nineteenth-century African American holiday customs,…
3 events,
Fun in the Forge
Fun in the Forge
At Fun in the Forge, you will have the opportunity to be a blacksmith for a day. Create simple projects such as hooks, a flint and steel firestarter (with instructions on how to use it) and a dinner bell. All tools and materials will be provided. Ages 13+ (ages 16 and under must register with an adult). Learn more about our classes. Price: Member: $95 Nonmember: $105
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
3 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
American Sign Language Tours at A Merry Prairie Holiday
American Sign Language Tours at A Merry Prairie Holiday
December 13 and 21, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. For guests who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, we will be offering ASL tours. Each tour will be guided by an ASL interpreter who will communicate between guests and historical interpreters. Groups will make stops at the Golden Eagle Inn, a campfire to warm up with songs and stories with Prairietown locals, the soiree at the Campbell House, the home of the Turner family to learn about nineteenth-century African American holiday customs,…
2 events,
A Merry Prairie Holiday
A Merry Prairie Holiday
Not a twinkle out of place! Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Across acres to explore, surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and capture that perfect moment. There is something for everyone to enjoy this year. Get updates about the festival by texting MERRY to 317-779-3330
Historic Funeral
August 17 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Grief and loss have always been a part of our lives. Join Conner Prairie on August 17 as we explore grief and mourning from a 19th century perspective.
This program, set in 1836 Prairietown, is offered to respectfully interpret some of the beliefs and attitudes regarding illness, death and burial in the early 19th century.
Throughout Prairietown discover how each member of the community grieves and what mourning practices looked like in 1836. View the topics the different residents will be presenting:
- Campbell House: Dr. and Mrs. George Campbell and their daughter Lillian will discuss infant/child death, the historical reality of illness often resulting in death and 19th century grieving, death and funeral practices. The family will also be examining the deceased’s belongings in order to determine his identity and who to inform of his passing.
- Golden Eagle Inn: Martha Zimmerman and her children will discuss spousal and parental death, family support in times of loss and 19th century grieving, death and funeral practices.
- Whitaker Store: George Whitaker and his son James will discuss infant/child death, grief anniversaries and 19th century grieving, death, and funeral practices.
- Prairietown Graveyard: Various members of Prairietown will be digging graves, cleaning headstones, gathering flowers for the deceased and speaking on their experience with grief and loss.
We respect how you might feel with the topic of death so feel free to inform the Prairietown residents of your comfort level.