Take a step back in time at the annual Heritage Day on Saturday, September 14, from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.  Come out to the Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park and enjoy a wide array of ethnic foods, demonstrations, and activities for young and old alike. Apple cider making, meat rendering, old fashioned laundry day, whittling display, corn shelling, hands-on rope making, rug braiding, sewing & knitting demonstrations, antique tractor & car displays, and bread & butter making can all be enjoyed at Heritage Day.
New this year will be the Goertzen Band performing their variety of stringed instruments in the Country Church at 10:00 a.m. Also new will be Vintage Photos available by Cat’s Cradle Photography all day at the park.
Country School will be in session from 9:30–11:00 a.m. complete with chalk board lessons, raising of the flag, and vintage school yard games. A variety of sewing demonstrations will take place in the Immigrant House in the morning. Horse and buggy rides will be available for tours around the park throughout the day.
If you are interested in genealogy, the General Store will be open and visitors can view the Heritage Park’s entire collection of genealogies and gift shop items. Volunteers will be on hand for assistance using the GRANDMA Genealogy computer program.
Ethnic foods available will be bologna, cheese, zwieback, ham sandwiches, New Year’s cookies, raisin shnetya, sour cream cookies, and apple prieshka. Cracklings and homemade sausage may also be purchased on Heritage Day. Fresh waffles cooked on an outdoor wood fired stove using antique waffle irons will be available.
Golf carts will be available for those needing assistance getting around the Heritage Park. Admission is free but free will donations will be accepted. The park is located 1 ½ mile south of the Henderson I-80 Exit #342 on spur 93A. For more information, contact LaVonne Thiessen at 723-4559.
Shannon Siebert
