September 13 Heritage Fair celebrates Heritage Village, a place where the ‘olden days’ are relived every day
The 40th-annual Heritage Fair – or Utschtallung – takes advantage of Heritage Village, a place in Mountain Lake where the “olden days” can be found every day, in order to turn the clock back and tell the story – the history – of the area, one building at a time.
This year’s fair will be held Saturday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Heritage Village, which is located on the city’s southeast corner, just off of Minnesota State Highway #60 and Cottonwood County Road #1.
Gate admission to the event is – free.
Those attending are encouraged to come dressed in pioneer-era clothing, adding to the historical atmosphere.
The heritage and culture of the Russian Mennonites and Russian Lutherans – and, of late, the Laotians – who immigrated to this southwest Minnesota prairie and made it their home, can be found at every turn – and significantly includes a wide away of ethnic foods.
These include (from the Russian Mennonite and Lutheran heritage) – crullers (topped with jam if you like), perischke (fruit tart), peppernuts, portzilke (deep-fried New Year’s cookie packed with raisins), zwiebach (two-story bun), schnetke (biscuit), verenike (cottage cheese pockets), rull coka (deep-fried pastry), moos (fruit soup), borscht (vegetable soup featuring cabbage), dark bread, sausage, ham, sunflower seeds – and – from the Laotian culture, egg rolls. Also available to eat will be hot dogs, pork burgers, homemade ice cream, popcorn and pop.
A bake sale featuring the ethnic specialties will be held in the Big shed.
Fair goers will be able to tour the various buildings on the grounds, see women doing handicraft in the Mennonite House, view a model railroad and old-time telegraph in the Depot, check genealogy information in the Depot, watch the Spelling Bee in the Schoolhouse, be entertained by the Children’s Old-Fashioned Costume Parade and take a Mountain Lake Knowledge Match Test.
Area fourth-graders are invited to participate in the Spelling Bee in the Schoolhouse, as led by Schoolmarm Nordis Olson (who on other days is an elementary teacher at Mountain Lake Christian). This event starts at 10 a.m.
The Knowledge Match begins at 11 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m.
The children’s parade – open to any child willing to participate – will begin the trek up-and-down Memory Lane at 11:30 a.m.
Horseshoes will be tossed in competition running from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., a Free Throw Contest and a Jump Rope Contest will take center stage.
There will also be a wide variety of entertainers performing along Memory Lane, on the outdoor Depot Stage, in the Big Shed and in the Gazebo.
Gifts and souvenirs will be on sale in the Gift Shop.
Heritage Village is home to Minnesota’s only authentic 1884 Mennonite Homestead (a connected house and barn – as they were back in the day), as well as the Minnesota Telephone Museum.
In addition, displays in the interior of the red Buhler Barn will reflect on the uses of such a building from a bygone era.
There will be exhibits in all of the buildings on the grounds, including the Welcome Center – as well as working displays and demonstrations in the buildings and in the nooks and crannies along Memory Lane.
