An event some 175 years in the making, the community of Walhalla will celebrate 175 years July 1-4 with events for the entire family.
As the second oldest community in both North and South Dakota, the 4-day celebration will pay special recognition to the culture and history of the fur trade and settlement era that developed the community. First known as St. Joseph as named by Father George Belcourt, the name was changed to Walhalla, the Valley of the Gods, in 1871.
‘Legacies and Legends’ brings Walhalla area history alive through song and word as historical characters take the stage in a production written especially for this event by Amy Jo Paukert. Learn more about Walhalla from its very earliest days to the days of homesteading. The production will take the stage of the Walla Theatre at 7:00 p.m. June 30, July 1, and July 2.
Ryan Keplin, billed as the best fiddle player in North Dakota, will be the feature at Saturday afternoon’s Gingras Days at the Gingras Trading Post site along with artisan vendors from the Turtle Mountain area. Metis fur trader Antoine Gingras constructed the site’s buildings which served as his base of operations in the 1840s. Tours will be available at the site and children’s games will be led by a site supervisor on Sunday, July 2.
In true fur trade era tradition, a team of oxen pulling an ox cart will be part of Saturday’s 10:00 a.m. parade on a parade route that which parallels an original trail that hundreds of ox carts followed as they left St. Joseph headed for St. Paul in the mid-1800s. The team and driver will be available throughout the afternoon at Bump’s Garage for community engagement. Several other historical characters and entries will continue the history experience in the parade as they are joined by the Rendezvous Region Band, the Royal Canadian Legion with their bagpiper, and multiple other entries. Entries are welcome until parade time.
The history of garments happens with a showing of vintage clothing shared by Cherie Johnson of Hatton at the Walhalla Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Cherie will bring about 40 outfits for local models in the show. Kathy Kram of Walhalla will also be displaying vintage clothing items.
Monday afternoon the public is encouraged to experience the history and scenery of the Walhalla area with a self-guided driving tour of featured sites. Several of the sites will have greeter to give tours and answer questions. Guide maps will be available during the weekend, at the Walhalla Chamber Office on Monday, and on the Walhalla’s 175th Celebration Facebook page. Included is the newly restored Kittson Cabin located in the Walhalla State Historic Site with host Steve Martens representing the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Later Monday afternoon expect historical characters to make an appearance during the cemetery walks at St. Boniface and Hillside cemeteries. The walks will be conducted by local historian Jim Benjaminson as he points out the graves and shares stories of the deceased. A long over-due marker will be placed at the grave site of Billy Buttons, the beloved horse of Rev. Goldie who himself is buried with the Walhalla Martyrs. The St. Boniface walk will be held at 4:30 p.m., the marker dedication at 6:00 p.m. and the Hillside walk at 6:30 p.m.
The July 4 weekend will be full of activity with Saturday’s 5-K run, Brick Mine Motoclimb, Pembina Hills Show and Shine, vendor fair, food trucks, a street dance, and a huge fire works display at dusk. Sunday features a community worship at 11:00 a.m. with Rodney Bjornstad as guest speaker and the Sudanese Choir from the St. John the Divine Church in Moorhead providing special music; water volleyball: Party in the Park with Kiddie Parade, Walhalla’s Got Talent Show, and bounce houses. Additional activities on Monday include a co-ed baseball pick-up game. Fireworks at dusk on July 4th complete the celebration.
Schedules, parade entry forms, and a list of accommodations are available on the Walhalla Chamber website at chamber@walhalland.biz and on the event’s Face Book page – Walhalla’s 175th Celebration. The Pembina Hills Show and Shine Face Book Page includes information regarding that segment of the celebration.
