MESA, Ariz. —  The cast of "Little House on the Prarie (search)" will reunite this weekend in Tombstone, a town known for its old West roots.

Melissa Gilbert (search), who played Laura Ingalls Wilder, is scheduled to reunite with Dean Butler (search) (Almanzo Wilder) and Alison Arngrim (search) (Nellie Oleson) during the Tombstone Western Film Festival that runs Friday through July 4.

The 1970s television hit was almost a guilty pleasure for viewers, Butler told the East Valley Tribune.

"People watched it, but they didnt want to talk about it," he said. "It was almost an embarrassed pleasure. People would ask, How can you watch "Little House on the Prairie"? Its so sweet."

The show, based on the books by Wilder, showed the struggles of the Ingalls family and other pioneers in Walnut Grove. It ran nine seasons.

Butler said the show's longevity was a credit to the late Michael Landon, who played family patriarch Charles Ingalls.

"Michael Landon understood something about the simple aspirations of everyday people to live a happy life," said Butler. "It was so simple it was genius."

The Tombstone festival will feature screenings of the cast members' favorite episodes and question-and-answer sessions.