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
Woodworking: 19th Century Puzzle Box
March 22, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 22: 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Pocket-size boxes with trick lids were popular in the nineteenth century for carrying tobacco, among other things. These novelty boxes could take many shapes, from simple rectangles to coffins, shoes, and more. Easy to make and fun to use, this project makes for a great handmade gift or keepsake. All tools and materials provided. Learn more about our historic classes.
This class is for individuals ages 14+. Anyone under the age of 16 must register with an adult.
Location: Modern Woodshop, location #37 on map
Members: $80 | Nonmembers: $90
About the Teacher
Henry Raab has been building American period furniture with traditional hand tools for four years. He is a proud Hoosier with a passion for learning and teaching about historic trades.
Growing up in central Indiana, Henry spent most of his childhood outdoors at parks and living history sites such as Eagle Creek, Turkey Run, Billie Creek, and Conner Prairie. This exposure taught him to value our precious natural and cultural resources, as well as family traditions of folk music and craft that all taught him an appreciation for art and storytelling.
Today Henry’s mission is to preserve traditional hand skills through preservation, demonstration, and hands-on instruction. He is a member of several organizations dedicated to this purpose, including the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM), the Midwest Tool Collectors’ Association (MWTCA), and the Association for Living History, Farm, and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM).
He worked as an intern for eight weeks at the Marc Adam’s School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana, and now works at Conner Prairie full time as a living history interpreter, historic building preservationist, furniture maker, and instructor.
When he is not working, Henry continues to spend time in Indiana’s beautiful forests as well as building tools and furniture, reading about early American history, binding books, and collecting antiques.