VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– It was one of the busiest weekends of the year at Fowler Park in southern Vigo County as they hosted thousands as part of its Pioneer Days event.
The tradition spans back over 50 years and gives residents a chance to get a first-hand look at what life was like almost two hundred years ago. This festival is becoming more unique by the year because of the growing rarity of these villages.
Heather Cosme Milian is the natural resources programmer for Vigo County Parks and Recreation, and she explains how this village impacts everyone in the community.
“There aren’t many pioneer villages left so the fact that we get to have one in Vigo County for the public to come visit for learning Indiana history and also for our kids. We have our fourth graders out here every year since they are learning Indiana history that year,” said Cosme Milian.
The constant improvements in technology and innovation have made people take a lot of little things for granted.
Adam Grossman is the superintendent for Vigo County Parks and Recreation, and he talks about how this festival opens people’s eyes to how things used to be.
“A lot of people just turn on a light switch and go to the grocery store and not think about how life used to be. Getting food and the hard work that pioneers had to go through to build up their homes and their homestead, hunt, trap, and all kinds of different things they had to do that weren’t as easy as turning on a light switch or going to the grocery store,” said Grossman.
The reason this festival has stayed popular for so many years is simple. It allows people of all ages to bond while learning about our storied past.
“All the things that people get to learn that they didn’t know about or relive a little bit of their childhood if they have been coming to Pioneer days for a long time,” added Cosme Milian.
Pioneer Village will host a blacksmithing class for all interested on October 21st.
