The new documentary “Little House Homecoming” is coming to De Smet July 11-13.
“Little House Homecoming,” directed by Jonathan Parker, is a love letter to all things Laura Ingalls Wilder, her beloved books and the “Little House on the
Prairie” television show that brought
the books to life 50 years ago.
Jonathan Parker directed and produced the documentary, which will be shown on Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. at the De Smet Event & Wellness Center in the Midstate Theater.
Fans will be joined by special guests Dean Butler, Wendi Lou Lee and Charlotte Stewart, all of whom brought Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories and spirit to life through their acting on the television show. Wilder enthusiasts will have a chance to meet the actors, attend screenings of the documentary, secure autographs, listen to panel discussions and book readings and attend a special Sunday luncheon.
Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder, Lee, who played Grace Ingalls, and Stewart, who portrayed Ms. Beadle, will be making appearances around De Smet throughout the weekend. They will be at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant on July 11 and 12, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society on July 11 and the Ingalls Homestead on July 12.
A special Sunday luncheon will be held with the Little House television actors on Sun., July 13, followed by a screening of the documentary.
“We are thrilled to have the documentary, the cast and crew here in De Smet,” said Eric Fairchild, treasurer of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society, junior archivist and guide at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society. “Our ‘Little Town on the Prairie’ is and has always been the place to visit for all things Laura. This will be an exciting event for all of us.”
Parker’s daughter Anna loved all things Laura, and through her, he fell in love with Laura, too. Anna read all the “Little House on the Prairie” books and the autobiographical work on Laura
Ingalls Wilder that she possibly could.
Three years ago, the family took a 19-day road trip from their home in Virginia to Yellowstone, and they visited museums dedicated to Mrs. Wilder in five towns along the way, one of which was a stop in De Smet.
This trip made a lasting impression on the family, and Parker felt this journey would make an interesting film. The Parkers connected with the cast of the original television show, “Little House on the Prairie,” and followed them around the country in 2024 to cast reunions at the real places Laura called home. These places included Walnut Grove, Minn., Pepin, Wis., Independence, Kan., Malone, N.Y., Mansfield, Mo., and De Smet.
“This is a family project,” said Parker. “My wife Becky and I produced the film; our daughter Anna bookends the film with narration, and our other children Joel and Ben appear in scenes at the various locations. Along the journey, we have met amazing people, from Little House super fans and original cast members to the museum staff members who preserve Laura’s legacy. We wanted to capture what Laura’s work means to each person interviewed for the documentary.”
Parker is excited to be coming back to De Smet. He, his family and the production crew fell in love with the community. He commented on how the Ingalls Homestead was one of the more scenic locations caught on camera. They filmed downtown De Smet, the Ingalls home on Third Street and the Wilder pageant.
“De Smet is a beautiful town with incredibly kind and caring people,” said Parker. “So, we are so excited for the opportunity to come back to De Smet and share the final film with the community.”
Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder, will be joining Parker for the showing of the documentary. Butler has been associated with “Little House on the Prairie” for 46 years. He and Parker were introduced in 2023.
“It was a game-changing conversation,” said Butler. “As I listened to Jonathan’s commitment to honor his 11-year-old daughter Anna’s devotion to the Little House books and the Little House series, I knew I was going to do whatever I could to support him in the making of his movie.”
Butler is thrilled to be a part of this documentary. He loves to talk about all things Laura Ingalls Wilder, Michael Landon and the show.
“While Laura and Michael never met each other, I can’t help but believe that if they had met, they would have seen special parts of themselves in each other,” said Butler. “This documentary, “Little House Homecoming” is a love letter to Laura, to Michael and to all of us who are devoted to the sustaining value of family, decency and hopeful optimism.”
Butler, 69, has been coming to De Smet for decades to celebrate Laura’s life, and he is excited to be coming back.
“I can’t wait to journey once again to Laura’s land of long ago,” he said.
Lee, who played Grace Ingalls, was born in southern California and spent the first four years of her life on the set of “Little House on the Prairie.” After her short-lived acting career, her family moved to the central coast of California, where she grew up like any normal child.
Lee no longer does any official acting, but she enjoyed participating in every school talent show and church musical production she could.
Lee landed the role of baby Grace through her grandmother’s friendship with Kent and Sue McCray, the producer and casting director on the show. Every time she appeared with Melissa Gilbert on screen, her love for Laura grew deeper. As she got older and read all the books, she developed an even deeper love for Laura and the Wilder family.
Lee first visited De Smet in March of 2025, where she enjoyed a wonderful tour of the museum and Ingalls home. She was unable to visit the Ingalls Homestead at that time, so she cannot wait to see it on this trip.
“I am very excited to be invited to this event,” said Lee, “and I am thrilled to be joining you all for opening weekend of “The Hard Winter, Laura’s Dakota Stories.”
For a full schedule of events and tickets to the documentary or luncheon, visit www.desmetpageant.org/homecoming.
