People gathered for live music, history, and hands-on activities at the Eden Prairie Historical Society's Picnic on the Farm Wednesday at the historic Dorenkemper House near Riley Lake Park. Photos by Joanna Werch Takes
The Eden Prairie Historical Society hosted its first-ever Picnic on the Farm event the evening of July 24 on the lawn of the historic Dorenkemper House at Riley Lake Park. The event included tours of the historic home led by Ginny Dorenkemper, who lived in the house as a child and whose mother was born in it in 1910.
The Geisler-Dorenkemper House was built in the 1860s and originally located along Pioneer Trail at Settlers Ridge. Ginny Dorenkemper lived in it as a girl with her parents.
Historical Society members also offered hands-on displays of antiques and old-fashioned games, while the Eden Prairie Art Center provided materials for crafts and Galactic Cowboy Orchestra performed live music. Participants were welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic supplies, while a Pizza alas Brasas food truck peddled wood-fired pizza and NorthStar Tavern offered adult beverages. The Eden Prairie Historical Society plans to repeat the free event on Aug. 14.
The Aug. 14 event will feature live music from Fred the Bear, artesian pizza available for purchase from OG ZaZa, and NorthStar Tavern making a return appearance. The Picnic on the Farm events run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dorenkemper House, 9090 Riley Lake Road, near the Riley-Jacques Barn, with free parking at Riley Lake Park, 9180 Riley Lake Road.