10/01/2025
TAB: History comes alive at Pioneer Festival: A historical reenactor in the Pioneer Village at the Forks of Wabash Pioneer Days Festival interacts with a youngster in attendance Saturday afternoon. Photo by Eric Christiansen
The 49th Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival turned the Huntington County Fairgrounds into a living history museum Sept. 27–28, 2025.
The two-day event drew families and history buffs with war-of-1812 artillery salutes, melodrama, roving musicians and a cornucopia of old-fashioned foods, all staged at the fairgrounds at 631 E. Taylor St. in Huntington.
The festival opened at 10 a.m. Saturday with a firearm salute from the 1st U.S. Light Artillery, signaling the start of the weekend.
Visitors wandered among reenactors portraying historically-accurate characters and scenes in the Pioneer Village and other historic camps, while Applejack Cloggers performed on the main stage.
Throughout the morning and afternoon, the Huntington North High School Masque & Gavel troupe staged a melodrama performance.
Antique bicycle demonstrations and games honored Lynette, Dick and Arlene Hammel, while children joined the “Kids’ Mini Militia.”
At noon, the 1st U.S. Light Artillery teamed up with the 5th Indiana 1812 Militia for a live-fire demonstration, and magician Jim Barron entertained crowds on the stage.
Musician Bob Hart played the dulcimer for festival attendees to enjoy on Saturday at the Forks of Wabash Pioneer Days Festival. Photo by Eric Christiansen
Youngsters competed in a scarecrow making contest and enjoyed pony rides and a petting zoo, while an Abe Lincoln impersonator told stories from the 16th president’s life.
Children also tested their strength in a kiddie tractor pull competition.
After lunch, the festival presented its annual Arrowhead Award honoring volunteer service, followed by a mounted-shooting demonstration by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.
Musical performances were scattered across the grounds: the Varsity Singers entertained in the saloon, dulcimer player Bob Hart and other local musicians filled the air with old-timey tunes, and more mounted-shooting and bicycle demos kept adrenaline high.
The day closed with performances by singer Sunny Taylor before the gates shut at 6 p.m.
Sunday started early with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Riverview and Crestview show choirs to raise money for their program.
A non-denominational old-time worship service led by Faith Community Church associate pastor Jeff Dimond drew worshippers at 9 a.m.
The festival reopened at 10 a.m. with gospel music from The Dotsons Gospel choir.
The rest of the day mirrored Saturday’s blend of demonstrations and entertainment.
Afternoon highlights included performances by Deeja, Winding Creek Friends, and Ivory Moss.
The Huntington Erie Community Band and Jazz Band closed the festival before the gates closed at 5 p.m.
Beyond scheduled performances, the fairgrounds were packed with continuous attractions designed to recreate pioneer-era life.
The Antiques Barn housed vendors selling vintage goods and hosted the Huntington County Artifact Society along with exhibits from the Huntington County History & Education Center and the Huntington City-Township Public Library’s genealogy center.
Kids crowded the “Younguns’ Fun” area, where Boy Scout Troop 637 staffed a merry-go-round, gold-mining pans, a muscleman bell and Jacob’s Ladder.
RC Singers ran a kids’ obstacle course, the HNHS National Honor Society painted faces, and families dipped candles with the Redner family and Belinda Cotton.
The Farmers’ Market sold pumpkins, mums, jams and maple syrup, while the Food Circle served pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken from Tim’s BBQ, corn dogs and soft-serve from the Huntington Township Volunteer Fire Department and hearty fare such as funnel cakes, pizza, biscuits and gravy, waffle fries, apple dumplings and corn fritters.
Root beer and cream soda flowed in the saloon tent run by the Huntington North Varsity Singers, while Jeff and Po Brooks sold apple fritters and Seth Stout ladled beef stew and chili in Pioneer Village.
The festival also featured craft booths, pioneer village demonstrations, a working sawmill, old-fashioned engines and tractors, antique motorcars and historic encampments representing various wars.
Wandering musicians Mark and Liza Woolever strolled the grounds both days, Bob Hart played dulcimer on Saturday and Winding Creek Friends roamed on Sunday.
After nearly five decades, the Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival remains a cherished celebration of Huntington County’s pioneer roots. As the last cannon smoke cleared Sunday evening, organizers were already looking ahead to next year’s milestone.
“We hope you had a good time. We’ll be back next year for our 50th anniversary,” the official brochure reads.
The post History comes alive at Pioneer Festival first appeared on The Huntington County Tab.
The 49th Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival turned the Huntington County Fairgrounds into a living history museum Sept. 27–28, 2025. The two-day event drew families and history buffs with war-of-1812 artillery salutes, melodrama, roving musicians and a cornucopia of old-fashioned foods, all stag...
