Skyline, Visitor's Center and Parking Lot. 
Goose Lake Prairie Partners, Inc.
Volunteers at Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
5010 N. Jugtown Road off Pine Bluff Road, Morris, IL 60450

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   Take only Memories.   Leave only Footprints.    Thank You Very Kindly.GOOSE IN THE GRASS

37th Annual Cabin Festival
Saturday, June 3, 2023
from 10 AM to 3 PM
FEATURING the New Cragg Cabin and Kiosk


Logo CPV Three Rivers PowerOur Sponsor for the 7th year --
CPV Three Rivers Energy Center,
We welcome our new neighbors.


This is a day devoted to

                 Free-Family-Fun!


May be an image of 4 people and text
Note: there will be no rain date. (Click to download our flier.)

Dulcimer Player - Mrs. Trufano
Cabin Docent - Mrs. Fleming
American Indian Traveling Museum - Mr. Aiello
Old Style Beekeeping - Mrs. Koster
Blacksmithing - Mr. & Mrs. Bodamer
Crochet - Mrs. Bonomo
Childrens Games - Mrs. Sipple

Broom Maker - Mrs. Tovey
Cabin Weaver - Mrs. Stevens
Knit & Crochet - Diamond Sisters
Mountain Man - Mr. Daggett
Grundy County Historical Society - Ms Steffes
The Tanner - Mrs. Mansfield
Wood Carving - Mrs. Mattson
And the Goose Lake Prairie Partners and Friends

Visit our Gift Shop and greet Mrs. McDade
 Eat Lunch from our Food Shop with
the Prairie Partners and  friends...
The food tent will be in the Cragg Cabin Compound.

Chairwomen for this event :                                                       
                 Charlene McDade and Beverly Mansfield.

Catch the Wagon driven by Park Staff which will be circulating the pond for a ride back and forth from Cragg Cabin to the Parking lot. 

Buy a chance on the fundraiser.
This year it is a Birders Package.
(Click here for fundraising flier with photos.)
Winner will be announced at the Prairie Day event in September.
So buy a chance in the gift shop or from a Prairie Partner and
help us with our educational projects.


 Tanner Mansfield adjusts her display
Tanner Mansfield will be returned again this year as well as
Lou Aiello and his Traveling American Indian Exhibit. 


The Origin of the Cabin Festival at GLPSNA

In February of 1985, a new Prairie Partner asked about the Cabin and it's uses.  She was told that it was used once in the fall for a program called "Incredible Edibles," and a warming place for cross-country skiers in winter.  Vince Matthews, the interpreter at the time, asked what the person had in mind.

It was at that time that Cabin Festival began, patterned after the "Settlement" in Lockport, (run by the Will Co. Historical Society). The new member knew several of the crafters in Lockport and asked them to come to Goose Lake Park and bring their crafts, making and doing things that the pioneers would need to do to survive.

The cabin (known as the Cragg Cabin) had only two benches, a table and a chair that was donated.  Pioneer Cabin Festival was bore.

The date chosen was September Prairie week and also combined "Incredible Edibles."  This was what we would call "weeds," but the pioneers found several things such as dandelion leaves and some roots to use in the spring.  They picked wild berries as the summer progressed and made jams and sauces.  The partners demonstrated the use of the "weeds" and served jams and jellies on crackers for the 'guests' to sample.

Eventually, because of weather and lack of crafters in the fall, the Pioneer Cabin Festival was moved to spring.  Crafters were not so overwhelmed with too many festivals at that time.

(Reference:  Jo Fleming, Morris, IL)

Updated June 11, 2022
Cragg Cabin History Story

Reenactment may include
:

American Indian
   Life & Culture
Bee Keeper
Blacksmith
Childrens Games
Tanning, Farming
Plant Study
Old fashion Games
Wood Carvers
Knitting, Crochet
Lace Making, Quilting
Weaving, Spinning
 Discussions of
   the Culture, Cabin Life and Area History in
1830 - 1860s
  

We are constantly looking for period
re-enactors to help us with this event
.  If you are interested in participating call us.

Crafts that pioneers would most likely do in the 1800s is our emphasis. 

If you would like more information about our festival please call 815-942-2899.