Fans of beloved television series are in for a big treat with 3-day festival

Local residents can join fans from across the globe in celebrating the golden anniversary of a television classic during the “Little House on the Prairie” 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival.

The event, which takes place March 22 to 24 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley, promises to be the largest gathering of cast members ever assembled from the beloved show, organizers said.

“Little House on the Prairie” follows the lives of the Ingalls, a frontier family who live on a farm near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the late 1800s. Adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s bestselling book series, the show ran on NBC for eight seasons from 1974 to 1982. A short-lived sequel followed in the 1982-83 season.

The television series’ exterior scenes were shot at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley.

The festival will feature autograph sessions, panel discussions and episode screenings. Scheduled to appear are such “Little House” regulars as Karen Grassle (who played Caroline Ingalls, the mother), Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls), Rachel Lindsay Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Alison Arngrim (Nellie) and Dean Butler (Almanzo) along with Matthew and Patrick Labyorteaux, Ketty Lester, Bonnie Bartlett, Lindwood Boomer, Wendi Lou Lee and others. Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls, is not slated to attend.

The “Little House” fanbase extends across the globe and fans from some 20 countries—including France, Italy, England and Germany—have already purchased tickets for the event, organizers said in a statement.

Three iconic interiors and a treasure trove of memorabilia from the series will be on display and there will be live music to set the nostalgic mood. Fans can step further back in time by learning how to churn butter and work with leather. They can even attend an 1880s-era schoolhouse lesson.

The event is being produced by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are available now at littlehousefestival.com.

General admission passes for adults range from $45 for one day to $120 for the full three days. Tickets for kids ages 5 to 12 are $15 for one day, $40 for all three days. Children younger than 5 will be admitted free.

Kathi Van Etten, president and CEO of the Chamber, is thrilled about the festival.

“There is only one place and one time that this historic event can take place. We wanted to do this for the fans, the cast members and for Simi Valley. This festival is not just a celebration of a television show, it’s a tribute to a legacy that has touched hearts for half a century.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to littlehousefestival.com.

— Acorn staff report