This is your opportunity to ‘Experience the ‘Wilder’ life this Summer! Please join us as we bring this unforgettable story to life! Gates open at 6:00 PM & Show begins at 8:00 PM.
Over the years, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant has drawn thousands of people from all over the world to watch this theater. This portrayal of Laura’s books outdoors while viewing the scene where the stories took place gives the books even more meaning. Each summer more than one hundred volunteers combine their talents to present a family-friendly drama based on Laura’s writings. It gives the opportunity for people of all ages and from every corner of the world to gather together on the beautiful South Dakota prairie and step back into history to a time when the West was just opening up to a wave of pioneering men and women. It is the opportunity – through drama – to display and preserve the family values and pioneering spirit of the Ingalls family.
Visit Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant website for more information.
The De Smet Arts Council is hosting De Smet Concert Series on Sunday afternoons at the 'Midstate Theater' in the De Smet Event Center. Season memberships are available and individual tickets are available for each event as well, and go for sale two weeks prior to the concerts.
The De Smet Concert Series is partially funded through the South Dakota Arts Council & area businesses. Visit our De Smet Area Concert Series page or call Rita Anderson at (605) 203- 0216 for information.
Started in 2001 with the musical ‘Bee Hive’, the De Smet Community Theater group has performed over 50 performances. They have staged 10 shows to approximately 7,000 audience members in varying locations.
Some shows include “Diamond Studs’, ‘Little House of Horrors”, “Nun Sense” and several comedies. The largest show was a community and high school performance with 107 cast members performing “Fiddler On the Roof”.
The community theater was honored to be the first to present a show in their new home, "The Midstate Theater" at the De Smet Event Center that opened in June 2015. They recreated their first musical, 'Bee Hive' to sold out audiences. "Dearly Departed," the great Comedy theater production by David Bottrell & Jessie Jones was presented in January, 2016. In addition, the winning musical 'BINGO,' was presented in 2016.
Piano/Instrument Lessons Are Available in the Community: Julie Bazler 854-9183, Nita Muser 854-3767, Diane Perry 546-2190
Plein Air is an expression which means “in the open air”, and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors. That is exactly what happens the second weekend of August here in De Smet. Artists of all levels gather to enjoy fellowship and paint outside on the prairie as renowned artist Harvey Dunn had done. Artists begin their weekend of activities and competition with registration.
Those who love art but do not paint or draw get the opportunity to watch and learn as the artists create on. Artists from several states will be seen painting at various locations in the De Smet area. Workshops will be held for artists to learn more about painting at various locations in the De Smet area. Workshops will be held for artists to learn more about painting techniques. Everyone has the opportunity to purchase these creations at a wet sale. The event is open to the public with no admission charge and free registration.
Artists: for more information, visit our Plein Air page, call Rita at (605) 203-0216 or email her at rita@desmetsouthdakota.org.
