Past Events

Though Willa Cather is known for her discerning taste in the arts and her gifted language in her work, she was also a student and keen observer of the natural world, writing frequently of her surroundings—the beautiful plants and trees, the vagaries of weather, the wonder of a night sky. Please join us at the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie at 6:30 p.m. (with dinner ticket) or 9:00 p.m. (night sky viewing only) as we host the Platte Valley Astronomical Observers for a night of sky viewing at the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie.

King Arthur, of legend and song, strode across medieval England with courage and confidence…or did he? What if the troubles of his kingdom threatened to overwhelm him?

Auditions for King Arthur's Quest will be held Monday, July 27, at 10:00 a.m. in the Red Cloud Opera House. Students entering first through twelfth grades are eligible to try-out; no prepared materials are needed to audition. Just bring your singing voice and a positive attitude. Plan to remain at the Opera House for two hours. Most students rehearse four hours each day, Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31.

The public is invited to hear the work of our Prairie Writers' Workshop participants at a reading and reception. Enjoy refreshments while instructor A.P. Andrews and our drama writing workshop participants read selections from their work in the historic Red Cloud Opera House. This event is free and open to the public.

Mark your calendars for July 9-12, 2015!

Join New York playwright A.P. Andrews in Red Cloud for a four-day workshop in drama writing! This workshop is open to all experience levels and will culminate in a staged reading in the Red Cloud Opera House!

Join us for a day in Red Cloud, the land that inspired Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather! On this one-day bus trip, you will be able to experience the beautiful “Divide” and tour Cather’s childhood home, as well as other historic buildings related to her life and writing. The cost is $100.00* which includes motor coach fare, lunch, guided tours, and refreshments. It is important to wear comfortable shoes and clothing for walking.

Join us for an alfresco dinner and concert at the Nebraska State Historical Society's Burlington Depot featuring renowned guitarist Daniel Martinez. Tickets for this show must be purchased in advance.

Over the course of three weeks in May and June, playwright A.P. Andrews along with four collaborators will be in residency in Red Cloud to create a theatrical retelling of Willa Cather’s novel, The Song of the Lark. The group of five multi-disciplinary artists will use passages from the text, as well as original material, to recreate Thea Kronborg’s journey of self-discovery.

Please join us in admiring these wonderful pieces and in meeting the people who created them. 

Once again, the Willa Cather Foundation welcomes guests to the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie for our annual Wildflower Walk. This year, education director Tracy Tucker will lead the walk at 8:00 pm so that you may experience the beautiful sunset and evening birdsong on the Cather prairie. No admission will be charged, though donations to the Cather Foundation help support our educational programs.