Step back in time at Pioneer Life, MetroParks of Butler County’s annual celebration of local history. The popular event returns to Governor Bebb MetroPark the last weekend of September, offering visitors two days to experience life in early 1800s Ohio. Pioneer Life is MetroParks’ largest annual event and will take place both Saturday and Sunday this year.

When:   September 26 - 27, 2026
Time:    12 – 4 p.m.
Where: Governor Bebb MetroPark
              1979 Bebb Park Ln. Okeana, OH 45053
Cost:     $6 per person, pay at the door
              NO COST for children ages two years and under

Travel back to the early 1800s at Governor Bebb MetroPark’s historic Pioneer Village. Meet interpreters in traditional dress, discover the trades and skills of the time, make your own candles, and experience a lesson in the village’s historic schoolhouse. Visitors can also watch live weapons demonstrations, visit the blacksmith, explore historic buildings, and enjoy games from days past. NEW in 2026: participants can learn about chair caning and flint knapping, and try their hand at making fresh-squeezed juice through apple pressing.

Governor Bebb MetroPark is named for William Bebb, the 19th Governor of Ohio. Bebb was born in Okeana in 1802, and his childhood home was relocated to the park in the late 1950s. The Bebb cabin is one of seven historic buildings in Pioneer Village, which also features a replica forge. A tavern, schoolhouse, covered bridge, and other family dwellings were relocated to the park between 1959 and 1992.

For more information about Pioneer Life, click here. 

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