Special Events

Early Days of McFarland

The Early Days of McFarland event will be held at the McFarland Museum at 5814 Main Street on Saturday, September 28 from 1 to 4 pm, in conjunction with the McFarland Community Festival.

In the first photo, Gail Aaroen holds an old-fashioned game, Rosalie Richardson holds tools for making lefse and Dick Kohl holds a bucksaw to demonstrate activities of early McFarland settlers. A cider press that will be used stands in the foreground. Other demonstrations are butter churning, corn shelling, wool spinning and ice-cream making.

Also featured is an Indigenous Peoples display under the frame-work of long and narrow teepee poles. Many years ago, a Ho-Chunk village was located in the current Babcock Park area. This exhibit will bring the past and present together with historic Ho-Chunk family photos and the current Land Acknowledgement agreement. Potawatomi native and McFarland resident Art Shegonee will be dressed in his regalia. He will be happy to have his photo taken with you standing next to him.

The Museum, Norwegian Log Cabin and Early Farming displays will be open for the public.  Families, young and old, are encouraged to attend and participate in a variety of fun activities.

Early birds can get up to watch Channel 3 on Friday, September 27, at 6:12 am and again at 6:42 am for interviews about the Early Days of McFarland event.

Special McFarland Historical Society T-shirts in two styles, one with the Log Cabin and the other with the Larson House logos will be for sale at the Museum.  The sizes are medium, large and extra large and the cost is $15.

On Sunday, September 29, from 11 am to 3 pm there will be an open house at the Museum. The group Alsmo Ramblers II will play old-time songs for your enjoyment from 1 pm to 3 pm. John Klang will play his guitar, Ralph Kieffer and Jim Alamo are fiddlers, and Betty Kalhagen is on the keyboard.

For more information, contact Wes Licht at 608-422-3682 or Gail Aaroen at 608-332-7089.

Strawberry Shortcake Social 

The Strawberry Shortcake Social is an annual event at the the Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange Street held in June from 1 to 5 pm and features McFarland’s best strawberry shortcake!  The strawberries are freshly picked and the shortcake is homemade. There is also live entertainment, lawn games and free tours of the Larson House.  Beverages and hot dogs are also served with all proceeds benefitting the McFarland Historical Society.   What great, family friendly event.

In 2024, the event will be held on June 23.  In addition to that amazing strawberry shortcake, the entertainment is outstanding.  The Subterranean Jazz Project plays jazz, blues, pop and anything else that brings joy to their audience.  Romeo and Juliet First Draft by the Bard of literature actually has a happy ending and you won’t want to miss it!  Blue Skies Saxophone Ensemble plays jazz, classical, religious and popular selections.  Corey and Shauna Bauhs are a local couple who sing Johnny Cash and Clearwater Revival tunes along with their original music.