Carrie dates, actors confirmed

The Carrie Ingalls birthday festival has officially signed its actors and set its dates. After much back and forth the festival will be held July 26-28 and will feature Alison Arngrim and  Charlotte Stewart. Arngrim  played Nellie Oleson  on the long-running “Little House on the Prairie” television show from 1974-83. Her character, Nellie was a conglomeration of three girls from  Laura Ingalls’ childhood. Arngrim is an avid sock monkey fan and is requesting attendees bring their own sock monkeys to try to collect the largest gathering of sock monkeys ever.
Stewart played the school teacher Miss Beadle for seasons one through four of the television show. She will be somewhat reprising her role by conducting a spelling bee during the festival.
Both actors will be able to autograph personal items or photographs.
The free festival will also feature crafts for children, music and a Little Miss Carrie look-alike contest that event organizer Jeanie Kirkpatrick says has “no age limit.” Organizers are still looking for artisan and old time vendors to round out the three-day event.
The Keystone Museum will host Carrie-specific walking tours highlighting some of the places in Keystone close to Carrie.
The museum celebrates Carrie’s birthday each year, except in 2020 due to COVID-19. The festival draws “Little House on the Prairie” lovers from all over the world. It’s a chance, says Kirkpatrick “to help celebrate a hidden gem of a well known Keystone resident.”