With semi trucks and other automobiles whizzing by in the background, many area residents celebrated the holiday season pioneer style.
West Fargo's Bonanzaville USA hosted its annual holiday celebration Saturday night, which featured holiday food and caroling inside several of the museum's historic buildings from when settlers first arrived to the Cass County area.
Tim Hoheisel, Bonanzaville's executive director, said the event's turnout was better than he had expected. "I think it's fantastic. I couldn't be happier," he said.
The event also featured horse-drawn carriage rides and lefse making.
"We are drawing people from a wide area," said Hoheisel, who talked to someone who traveled from Grand Forks, N.D., for the event.
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The director estimated this year's attendance should reach the total for last year's event, which drew more than 1,000 visitors.
Unlike last year's event, this year's drew criticism from some over the museum's decision to change the event's name from "Christmas on the Prairie" to "Holidays on the Prairie."
Considering the attendance numbers, Hoheisel said he feels that the name change has been a nonissue for this year's celebration.
The director said the change has helped the museum further its goal to educate and entertain the community. "We are a better museum for it," he said.
"From the start, we said it'll be the same thing as last year but more," he said.
New features included displays and demonstrations of different ethnic traditions.
The traditions highlighted German and American Indian customs along with Scandinavian dancers in the museum's Dawson Hall.
Some of the new attractions were the most enjoyable for first-timer June Aabye of Fargo.
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"That was fun to see since we don't know much about a lot of that stuff," said Aabye, while taking a time-out from eating in the main museum.
Aabye, who volunteered with her daughter this summer at Bonanzaville, said the event's new name wasn't a concern of hers. "I thought their explanation - to be more inclusive - was good enough," she said.
Marion Anderson said she understood the criticism and thought "Christmas" should stay in the title. "No need to change it," she said.
However, the name change didn't keep away Anderson, who hadn't visited the celebration in several years until this year.
The Fargo grandmother said she had to bring her family, including her two grandchildren and their parents.
"We had to bring the whole family," she said. "It's been a lot of fun."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Brett Gilbertson at (701) 241-5509
