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PASADENA, California — For the second year in a row, a group of members presented a Mormon Pioneer Living History as part of a two-day family festival held each year in the arroyo outside the famed Rose Bowl prior to the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl football game on New Year's Day.
The group, with participants in the parade and football game events, perform for the thousands of local residents and visitors from all over the world who have come to Pasadena for the festivities. Visitors can watch floats being completed, bands marching, horseback riders showing their riding skills and more. Historical groups staff displays. All of the equestrian entries in the Rose Parade are grouped in an area and called EquestFest.
The Mormon Pioneer Living History Group presented such pioneer activities as rope making, pioneer doll making, Dutch oven cooking, quilting, blacksmithing and pioneer games. A Mormon Battalion camp is also on display, complete with soldiers, tents and maps.
"We are one of the popular exhibits for kids especially," remarked Marianne Olsen who demonstrates quilting and cooking with her children. "They love to try quilting and making dolls and rope."
The pioneer re-enactors are a volunteer group of members from several Southern California stakes who teach the Mormon pioneer history of the area, including the history of the Mormon Battalion. They also teach and demonstrate the history each year at the Los Angeles County Fair and other community events.
"The Mormon Battalion and the San Bernardino Pioneers had a profound influence on the development of Southern California," commented Glenn Franks, a group member. "Visitors are surprised when they learn the many contributions made by the pioneers."
Brother Franks, who portrays a Battalion soldier, finds that many visitors turn his history presentation to discussions on the Church's family history program. Although this group does not proselytize, its members are prepared to build and strengthen bridges for the Church. A pioneer history brochure provided by the Southern California Public Affairs Council is distributed to visitors by the organization at each community event.
