During the 2023 winter holiday season, my wife and I noticed a local senior living tour bus that repeatedly stopped in front of our house. One day, I decided to go outside and ask what everyone was looking at. The driver explained that his passengers insisted on seeing the Flying Pig lantern my wife, Jaclyn, had displayed as part of her Christmas decorations. That simple moment touched our hearts—so after discussing it with neighbors Patrick, Amy, and Phillip, the Flying Pigs Festival was born!
There is a famous Walt Disney quote which reads: “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.”
Likewise, I like to believe that this same type of sentiment is at the heart of Walnut Grove’s Flying Pigs Festival—namely, an appreciation of our town’s origins and the belief that even a simple idea can bring the community together, help new neighbors feel welcome, and bring a smile to all who visit our little town. - E.M.
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