‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reunion Draws Devoted Fans & Stars to Walnut Grove (Exclusive Photos)

Every year, the town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota, celebrates the spirit of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose books inspired the popular TV series Little House on the Prairie, with a three-weekend Wilder Pageant and Village Fair. Part of this year’s Hometown Day Festival was the arrival of Sidney Greenbush, one of the Greenbush twins who starred as Carrie Ingalls on the original Little House on the Prairie (1974-83), who welcomed a large crowd on Saturday, July 18, 2026, and shared how proud she was to be a part of sharing Laura’s legacy and the mindset of helping one another.

“To be a part of something so huge, it’s very inspirational, and I take it with a level of respect in regard to what she represents to everyone, and it’s what I’m trying to make sure is preserved for her and in her name,” Sidney shares with us. “Also, I’m biased because, you know, Carrie was pretty awesome, too.”

Sidney Greenbush is holding a picture of herself and her twin sister Lindsay. She shares that you can tell who is who by looking closer at their chins. (Sidney is on the left)

Little House on the Prairie script and dialogue supervisor Charlotte Randall Yerke was also in attendance. Charlotte started working on the series in her early 20s and joined the crew during the latter half of the first season, where she worked alongside Michael Landon and the crew until August of 1982. As a script and dialogue supervisor, Charlotte’s job was focused on continuity — all the detail work. If Laura, who was played by Melissa Gilbert, had her bonnet off in one cut and then the next cut she didn’t have it on, or if dialogue was missed from what the original script detailed, Charlotte would flag for correction.

Laura Ingalls Gunn, Sidney Greenbush, Jennifer and Michelle Steffin, Charlotte Randall Yerke, and Michelle Underwood

“It’s full circle to be part of this legacy … to spread the kindness, joy and love of this community. To come here to the real Walnut Grove and to see those places — to put my feet in Plum Creek, to see the dugout and all those historic places,” Charlotte tearfully shares, clearly humbled by the beauty of the town, the people and the legacy she seeks to preserve. “Just the kindness and giving —we’re delighted to be here, to be with you, it’s an honor.”

Little House on the Prairie script with Charlotte’s notes

Little House on the Prairie‘s other set of twins (the show did have a lot!) — Michelle and Jennifer Steffin — played baby Rose Wilder in the series. Their story began when they were just 2 ½ years old. The girls returned in August of 1983 again, to take over the role of toddler Rose when the Coleman twins moved on. “It was such an amazing opportunity to shine in the final two made-for-TV movies!”

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum is located in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, which is roughly 150 miles southwest of Minneapolis

Also in attendance were Laura Ingalls Gunn, a descendant of the Ingalls family and historical seamstress and writer; and Michelle Underwood, author of books like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Rock Ridge Farm: A Detailed Look Behind the Scenes. Both of these women, along with the Steffin twins, are behind starting the Society of Ingalls Family, a group dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the Ingalls family through its museums, historical landmarks and events.

Inside the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum are props, scripts and photos from the original TV series.

“Yes, on my birth certificate! My name was Laura Ingalls, which was a lot of fun growing up in the ’70s. There were a lot of nasty Nellies on the playground, but as an adult when people learn my name, it’s always so positive,” Gunn shared. “I love the books. I love the show. All the historical sites. So, it’s really just an honor and a privilege to share Laura’s legacy. Her writings on kindness and helping her neighbors, compassion for others, and loving your family. To me, that is something that’s timeless, that is still very much needed today.”

A grasshopper plague in the 1870s forced the Ingalls family to leave Plum Creek and Walnut Grove.

Author Michelle Underwood is a docent at Laura Ingalls Wilder’s final home, Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri, where for nine years she’s been giving tours of the home and farm. She invited all the guests at Walnut Grove to come visit her in Missouri.

For Underwood, the celebration and museums are all about the preservation and honoring of Laura and taking care of her beautiful items for future generations to come. “We get thousands upon thousands of people who come every season from all over the world,” she tells of her Missouri location. “Laura is still remembered.”

Photos of the real Laura Ingalls Wilder hang in her museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

Attendees visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, which is open year-round, along with those attending the live two-hour pageant, were invited to a fundraiser dinner with the cast later that evening.

This year marked the 49th anniversary of the Wilder Pageant, an outdoor evening drama presented along the banks of Plum Creek. The pageant has already set its dates for its 50th anniversary next year: 2027 Wilder Pageant dates are July 9-10, July 16-17 and July 23-24. For more information, visit their website here.

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