Upcoming Events

Our Very Victorian Christmas is a popular special event at the Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange St. in McFarland WI. Every Sunday afternoon in December from 1 to 4 pm, the house is open for free tours and home-baked treats. Every room in the house is decorated, with a unique tree in each room.

This is also a great opportunity to pick up some last-minute gifts, including succulent arrangements by Wes Licht, gourd Santa ornaments by Thelma Allen, t-shirts, and wrapped gift baskets. Put in a silent auction bid on a gorgeous two-side twin quilt, which you can see in the entryway of the LHM. Bring cash or a check if interested, as the volunteer tour guides can’t take credit cards.

Dec. 7, 2024 – As part of Christmas in the Village on the first Saturday in December, we are open expanded hours, from 10 am to 4 pm.  Free tours are given, and fancy treats and hot beverages are served. Christmas music is played on the piano from 10 am until 3 pm, a reading of “T’was the Night Before Christmas” is given at 3 pm followed by Christmas carols around the living room tree.

Our meeting takes place the first Sunday each March at either the E.D. Locke Library community room or the McFarland Municipal Building across the street from the library. (2025 location TBA). We have a guest speaker and also honor one Society member for their contributions.

The Ladies’ Afternoon tea takes place either inside or outside the Larson House Museum, depending on the weather. Attendees are asked to wear moderately dressy attire (i.e., something you might wear as a wedding guest).

This event features a wide selection of delicious finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and teas. It is open to about 16 participants, and reservations are required. All proceeds benefit the McFarland Historical Society.

The Mothers” Day tea takes place inside the Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange Street.

This event features a wide selection of delicious finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and teas served on historic tableware. It is open to about 16 participants, and reservations are required. All proceeds benefit the McFarland Historical Society.

To raise funds for the LHM gardens, Larson House volunteer and Master Gardener Gail Aaroen and a team of volunteers dig extra perennials from the garden. After washing off the soil, they replant in sterilized potting soil and sell the plants from the LHM driveway. This is a hugely popular plant sale that you won’t want to miss!

Plants include flowering and non-flowering plants suitable for full-sun to part-shade. Many Wisconsin native species are available.

The Strawberry Shortcake Social is an annual event at the the Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange Street and features McFarland’s best strawberry shortcake! The strawberries are freshly picked and the shortcake is homemade.

The event also boasts a variety of live entertainment acts, lawn games and free tours of the Larson House.  Beverages and hot dogs are also served with all proceeds benefiting the McFarland Historical Society.  Hundreds of people come back year after year for this family-friendly event.

The upcoming social will be held June 22, 2025 from 1 to 5 pm. Our slate of entertainers this year includes:

Singing duo Susie and Randy

The Jackie Marie band (featuring Luanne Platte)

Tours of other historical museums and others points of interest are planned for all members and friends, usually in August.

Tours have included Old World Wisconsin near Eagle, Wisconsin, the Rotary Gardens and Tallman House at Janesville, Wisconsin, and the World Circus Museum at Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Guided walks around downtown McFarland cover topics such as railway history, cemetery tours, and beautiful historic homes.

In conjunction with the 2024 McFarland Community Festival, the McFarland History Museum held an “Early Days of McFarland” event at 5814 Main Street. We have not yet decided if we will repeat this event in 2025.

The History Museum, Norwegian Log Cabin and Early Farming displays were open to the public. People of all ages attended and participated in a variety of fun activities.

Our 2024 event featured several live music groups, as well as demos of butter churning, corn shelling, wool spinning, and ice-cream making. Potawatomi native and McFarland resident Art Shegonee presented an exhibit that included a full-sized teepee and beautiful native regalia and Ho-Chunk family photos. Channel 3 did two live interviews with us about the event.

Between 2022-2024, we have held a number of murder mystery evenings at the Larson House Museum. These events require a reservation and involve 8-20 costumed participants, in addition to a few volunteer servers and actors. Characters are assigned by the Murder Mystery Committee. Guests come up with appropriate costumes and arrive at the lovely Larson House at the date and time specified on their invitation.  Costumes do not need to be elaborate and anything you need can easily be purchased at a thrift store.

During these mysteries, our “John Larson” manikin has suffered horrible deaths by poison in his champagne, an exploding chocolate Easter egg, a candlestick to the head, etc.  Themes have involved various decades and countries (e.g., 1960s France), with food and background music to match. Guests enjoy elaborate and tasty food served to all in the dining room, champagne, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages and an evening of fun as everyone tries to solve the “who done” it mystery.