Rolette Pioneer Families (and More) Reunion 2026

We are pleased to announce a reunion of descendants of several Rolette area pioneers Friday-Sunday July 10-12. The original reunion, The Gilje-Tastad-Bakken Family Reunion, occurred in Rolette 50 years ago, on the 200th anniversary of the nation. The reunion will be headquartered at the Rolette Memorial Hall, with events at the International Peace Garden, Westland Cemetery, and some Norwegian farm homesteads.
While most attendees are likely to be descendants of original Rolette-area Bakken, Beaver, Gilje, and Tastad families, the reunion will be open to anyone.
For more information, click on the official website here and the Facebook page here. You can register at the website and follow along on the Facebook page.
Events will include:

• Displaying at the Memorial Hall pioneer-era keepsakes, photos and other early artifacts
• Opening of a time capsule that had been placed at Westland Cemetery on our nation's 200th anniversary, July 3-4, 1976
• Refilling and burying the capsule for another 50 years
• Dedicating at Westland a stainless steel, life-sized sculpture of a pioneer family
• Banquet at the Rolette Memorial Hall 
• Picnic at the International Peace Garden 
• Tours of original homestead farms 
• Sunday worship at Westland