The Pembina Threshermen’s Museum is gearing up for one of its biggest weekends of the year, Reunion Days, happening Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6. This annual celebration brings history to life with threshing demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, live entertainment, incredible food, and a whole lot of old-fashioned fun.
Celebrating harvest traditions together
The event’s name isn’t just for show, it’s about reconnecting with community and tradition. Events Coordinator Carrie Heenan said, “It’s everybody coming together and celebrating the harvest. We’re threshing, milking cows, grinding corn, it’s really a reunion of the past and everything that used to happen on the farm.”
Museum president and board chair Marlene Loewen added that the celebration is also about preserving heritage. “It’s an amazing experience. It sort of takes us back and gives us a small taste of what our ancestors felt. But most importantly, it’s about passing that history on to the next generation.”
A wheat field of their own
One of the most authentic parts of Reunion Days is that the threshing demonstrations don’t just rely on borrowed crops. The museum grows its very own wheat field on site, just like farms would have done a century ago.
Loewen explained, “The guys grow the wheat, cut it down, stook it, and then haul it to the threshing machine. Visitors can watch the entire process, it’s incredible to see it done the way it used to be.” From planting to binding to stooking sheaves, every step happens at the museum, creating an experience that is as close to history as possible.
Mennonite meals and homemade treats
No prairie celebration is complete without food, and Reunion Days delivers. From brown bread baked in clay ovens to hearty Mennonite meals, there’s something for everyone. “In the morning, we’ll have fresh bread and cinnamon buns, then at lunch a beautiful perogy dinner with sausage and pluma moos,” said Loewen.
Dessert lovers won’t be disappointed either. Heenan said, “We’ll be serving pie and ice cream both afternoons, apple, rhubarb, chocolate, you name it.”
And for supper, the Valley Harvest Maids will be grilling up homemade hamburger patties with fries.
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Live music, dancing, and old-time fun
Reunion Days also offers a packed entertainment lineup. On Friday evening, Vic and Linda Wolfe take the stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by The Quonset Brothers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday brings something new, an old-time dance with The Fugitives from 4 to 8 p.m.
“It’s polkas, waltzes, pattern dancing, people love it,” said Heenan. “And even if your partner doesn’t dance, you just grab someone else and join in. It’s all about having fun.”
Line dancing, tractor pulls, and a spectacular steam-engine spark show will round out the evening. Loewen said, “When the sparks fly out of the chimney into the night sky, it’s something you’ll never forget.”
Family activities for all ages
Kids and adults alike can enjoy the petting zoo, barrel train rides, and horse-drawn wagon rides. It’s a family-friendly event designed to bring people of all ages together. “There’s really something for everyone,” said Heenan. “From the food to the music to the demonstrations, it’s a chance to slow down and experience life the way it used to be.”
A weekend worth remembering
For Loewen, the heart of Reunion Days is about creating memories rooted in history. She said, “Life today is busy and fast-paced. This weekend slows it all down. It reminds us of the way things were and lets us enjoy the richness of our heritage together.”
Pembina Threshermen’s Museum Reunion Days run Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6, all day. Bring the family, enjoy the food, and experience prairie history come to life.