Fall and the upcoming 2024 Henderson Heritage Day are in the air! Take a step back in time at the annual Heritage Day on Saturday, September 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a wide array of ethnic foods, demonstrations, and activities for young and old alike.
Horse-drawn wagon rides around the park will be available this year. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Heritage Day in the back of a wagon as it makes a loop around the park! Old-fashioned laundry day, corn shelling, hands-on rope making, and butter making are interactive activities that everyone can try. Other handwork demonstrations include quilting, crocheting, embroidery, and rug weaving.
Heritage Day has no admission charge, and the entire park is open for viewing. Dave Ehly will perform live traditional gospel music in the country church from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Head over to the farmhouse and the Immigrant House in the morning to enjoy some old-fashioned music playing on the pump organs.
Professor Larry Roberts will conduct country school from 9 to 10 a.m. All children are invited to pop into the schoolhouse at 9 a.m. to participate in the lessons. Following Country School, Professor Roberts will offer hands-on glass etching in the agriculture building.
Ethnic foods available will be zwieback, New Year’s cookies, raisin shnetya, sour cream cookies, apple prieshka, bologna, cheese, and ham sandwiches. Traditional waffles and white cream sauce will be freshly cooked onsite and available for purchase, as well as freshly pressed apple cider.
To top it off, visit the East Side Cafe and enjoy a root beer float while strolling down the sidewalk lined with antique tractors! New this year will be the unveiling of the recently refurbished Gus Heindrichs Popcorn Stand. Fresh popcorn will be served on Heritage Day beside the schoolyard patio.
The Visitors’ Center will offer for purchase Stacy Lynn’s frozen cinnamon and caramel rolls and Two Baker’s frozen verenika meals with ham gravy to take home and enjoy. Don’t forget to watch the sausage stuffing demonstrations. Cracklings, lard, and spare ribs will also be available for purchase.
Heritage Day will host professional artist Ian Huebert this year. He will conduct printmaking demonstrations, and his art show will feature some of his original works as an illustrator and printmaker.
If you are interested in genealogy, the General Store will be open for viewing Heritage Park’s entire collection of genealogies and gift shop items. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you with using the GRANDMA Genealogy computer program.
Golf carts will be available for those needing help getting around the Heritage Park. The park is located 1 ½ miles south of the Henderson I-80 Exit #342 on spur 93A. For more information, contact Suzanne at 402-723-4252. Make sure to mark your calendars because there is always something for everyone to enjoy during Heritage Day!
