After more than four decades of celebrating pioneer life, the Kaysinger Bluff Pioneer Heritage Association has announced that Kaysinger Pioneer Heritage Days will be on hold for 2025. The event, traditionally held at the Kaysinger Bluff/Harry S. Truman Visitor Center, has served as a gathering place where visitors experience pioneer skills, stories, and traditions.
Association President Larry Berry said the decision came after facing challenges with staffing, resources, and volunteer availability. “Rather than press on with a weak wagon team and frayed reins, we believe it’s wiser to pull up the plow, patch the barn roof, and take this season to regroup and rebuild,” Berry said.
Organizers stress that this is not the end of the event, but rather a “rest stop” as they prepare for a major return in 2026, which will coincide with the 45th anniversary of Pioneer Heritage Days. Plans for 2026 also include a July celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
In the meantime, the public is invited to attend Kaysinger Christmas, set for December 5 and 6 from 3–9 p.m. The holiday event will feature warm cider and cocoa, candlelight, hearth fires, and traditional Christmas music along a luminary-lit Pioneer trail. Crafters and exhibitors will be on hand to help visitors create their own Pioneer Christmas memories.
The association is also calling for volunteers to help with future events. Those interested can email kaysingerpioneer@gmail.com or visit KaysingerPioneer.com for more information.
