Pioneer Day - Wildlife Prairie Park

Step back in time and join us for a day in the life of a pioneer! See inside our 1800’s Log Cabin and the Graham Chapel School House. Enjoy vendors, activities performances, animal programs, and more in the Pioneer Area. Channel your inner Laura Ingalls Wilder and come dressed in your best pioneer-era attire! FREE for WPP Members. Park admission for non-members.

The Park is open from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
The Animal Trails are open from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

FREE Prairie Zephyr Train Rides

Parking for the event is at the Train Depot. All guests must ride the train to the Pioneer Area.
Rides to each station is 10 mins with the full train ride being 45 mins. Please allow for 30-45 mins ahead of time to get to the Pioneer area.
Train Schedule is below.

$5 Hayrack Rides into the Bison and Elk Pasture | 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.

Hayrack leaves from the CEFCU Pavilion
Wristbands can be purchased September 5 at the CEFCU Pavilion
Limited Seating. First come, first served

Performances/Programs

10:30 a.m. | Keeper Chat with the Black Bears at the bridge in Merrill Woods between the black bears and cougars
12 – 2 p.m. | Bob and Judy Accordion Duo in the CEFCU Pavilion
2:30 p.m. | Keeper Chat with the goats & pigs in the Pioneer Area

Trade Vendors & Demonstrators | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Food Vendors | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Best Brew Espresso & Coffee
Novelty's & More Food
Skippy's Popcorn
In & Out Foods

Activities:

Nature Painting with Peoria Children's Playhouse Museum
Barrel Cart Rides
Obstacle Course at the Pioneer Cabin – Teeter Totter Challenge, Leap of Faith, Low Crawl, Tarzan Bell Kicker, River Crossing, Slack Line,
Cabin Activities – Block and Tackle, Two-man Saw, Real Horseshoe Toss
Pioneer Craft - Cloth Doll Making*
- *Crafts are subject to change
Seed Ball Craft outside the Kim St. John Butterfly Habitat
Walk-through to Observe Native Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables at the 4H Learning Garden
Quill Pen Writing & 3-Legged Races outside the Graham Chapel Schoolhouse
Sprinklers — bring a change of clothes if you like!

Want to volunteer?

Click here to sign up or email volunteering@wildlifeprairie.org with any questions!

Train Schedule

Photography Notice

Wildlife Prairie Park occasionally takes photographs or video of participants for promoting/advertising our programs, services, events, activities, and facilities in our brochures, website, social media, and other promotional materials. By entering Wildlife Prairie Park or registering for, participating in or attending the Park’s programs, events, or other activities, the participant (or parent/guardian of a minor participant) irrevocably agrees to the use and distribution by Wildlife Prairie Park of his or her image (or of his minor child/ward) in photographs, video recordings, and any other electronic reproductions of such programs, events and activities for any purpose without inspection or approval and without compensation, rights to royalties or any other consideration now and in the future.