2010 Schedule of Events
These family events relate the natural and cultural history of the area and give accounts of the men and women whose contributions made Harpers Ferry a significant place in our nation’s heritage. These events are made possible through the efforts of the park staff, NPS volunteers, living history groups, and the Harpers Ferry Historical Association. For more information call 304-535-6029 or visit the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park website.
April 17
19th Century Hot Frame Kitchen Gardening
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Learn how to extend your garden’s growing time from winter to the first frost.
May 8
Under Fire
11am - 4pm Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Learn about the Battle of Harpers Ferry and see an artillery demonstration. Programs are at 12 noon, 2pm & 3pm.
May 15
How Does Your Garden Grow?
The Armory Paymaster’s Garden. 11am - 4pm Lower Town. Join Living History Master Gardener Carol Anderson and experience the planting of the park’s historic armory paymaster kitchen garden. Sales of park heirloom seeds and seedlings will be offered through the Harpers Ferry Historical Association.
May 16
Something is Fowl in the Garden
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Experience the relationship between the 19th century kitchen garden and barnyard fowl. Sales of park heirloom seeds and seedlings will be offered through the Harpers Ferry Historical Association.
May 29-30
Defend and Protect: Arming the American Soldier
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Join us for special exhibits, historic weapons firing, programs highlighting Harpers Ferry Armory technology and invention and how soldiers used these weapons for national defense and exploration.
June 5
National Trails Day
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Take a hike and enjoy the breathtaking views of the town and park! Guided hikes depart from the Trails Day Tent on the Green.
June 26
Ninth Annual Don Redman Jazz Heritage Concert & Awards
6pm Camp Hill at Mather Training Center. Enjoy this free concert featuring Harold Mabern and Mickey Roker with the Howard Burns Quartet.
July 4
Celebrating the Glorious Fourth 1860
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Experience how Americans celebrated the nation’s birthday with picnics, band concerts, and patriotic speeches honoring the founding fathers and the glorious republic. Featuring the Wildcat Regiment Band, the Regimental Band of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
July 10
Meriwether Lewis Returns to Harpers Ferry
10am – 4pm Lower Town. Discover Harpers Ferry’s role in the Lewis and Clark expedition with Richard Cheatham as Captain Meriwether Lewis.
July 24
Slavery, the Abolitionist Movement and Reflections of Jefferson
1pm & 3pm Lower Town. Listen to this insightful dramatic presentation on the issue of slavery featuring Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson.
July 24-25
Medical Weekend: Giving Aid and Comfort 1864
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Hear the story of the national and local civilian and military efforts to sustain the Union Army as General Philip Sheridan prepared his army for the Shenandoah Valley Campaign.
July 31- Aug 1
I Will Follow Them to the Death: Sheridan’s Soldiers 1864
11am - 4pm Lower Town. 11th New Jersey will demonstrate Union army garrison duties such as guard mount parade; searching and arresting spies, deserters, and traitors; processing prisoners of war; searching citizens; and maintaining military security in a occupied enemy town.
August 14-15
A Summer of Fire: Harpers Ferry 1864
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Join the military as the 142nd Pennsylvania recruit, post a guard mount, question prisoners, issue the oath of allegiance and carry out orders to look for disloyal citizens aiding Confederate Partisan Ranger, John Singleton Mosby.
August 22
Niagara Movement Pilgrimage to John Brown’s Fort
8am Murphy Farm. Retrace the footsteps of civil rights pioneers during this commemorative walk to the site of the John Brown Fort in 1906. A 10:00 a.m. memorial service will follow at the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church.
August 28
How Does Your Garden Grow?
11am- 4pm Lower Town. Learn about kitchen gardens & heirloom vegetables and how they differ from today’s gardens. Join Master Gardener Carol Anderson for a discussion, hands-on raised beds demonstration, and examination of 19th century garden tools and heirloom garden plants.
September 4
United States Marine Band “Free Country”
6pm Camp Hill at Mather Training Center. Enjoy the music of one of our country’s premier military bands.
September 25
National Public Lands Day
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Explore area trails, see breath-taking vistas while helping to keep trails clean and pristine. Guided hikes rated easy to challenging will be offered in many areas of the park.
October 2
Mr. Lincoln Returns to Harpers Ferry
1pm & 3pm Lower Town. Our 16th president comes to life as Jim Getty portrays Abraham Lincoln.
October 9
Election Day 1860!
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Attend our living history fall event “Election Day 1860.” Look back 150 years to November 6, 1860, when the American electorate cast their ballots for the next president of the United States. Cast your vote!
October 16
At All Times Ready: The U. S.
Marines 11am - 4pm Lower Town. Learn how the U.S. Marines reacted to abolitionist John Brown’s October 1859 raid on the U.S. Armory.
October 30-31 - Under Fire: The Battle of
Harpers Ferry 1862
11am - 4pm Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Learn about the Battle of Harpers Ferry and see an artillery demonstration. Baltimore Light Artillery presents a military camp. Programs are at 12 noon, 2pm & 3pm.
November 6-7
Fall Cider Making
11am - 4pm Lower Town. Enjoy this fall tradition that harks back to happier times for German immigrant Frederick Roeder and his family when the tavern business was thriving.
December 4-5
Captain Flagg’s US Quarter Master City: Approach of Peace 1864
Sat. 12-8pm Sun. 11am-4pm Lower Town. Join this special Yuletide of 1864, when Harpers Ferry soldiers attempted to create Christmas in a war zone. Programs feature local citizens and soldiers preparing for the Yuletide, a Civil War-style Santa Claus dispersing presents to the soldiers, a Victorian Cotillion, Yuletide confections, and special guided walking tours. |
