Holiday Celebration: Olde Tyme Christmas Opening Ceremony

Kick off the Harpers Ferry/Bolivar Olde Tyme Christmas celebration with a welcome, historic music, and a yule log campfire from Harpers Ferry NHP. 6:00                     Enjoy a little live historic Christmas music. (In the tent on the Green)6:30                     W......More

Kick off the Harpers Ferry/Bolivar Olde Tyme Christmas celebration with a welcome, historic music, and a yule log campfire from Harpers Ferry NHP. 6:00                     Enjoy a little live historic Christmas music. (In the tent on the Green)6:30                     Welcomes and Introductions. (In the tent on the Green)7:00                     Warm yourselves at a yule log fire and hear about the history of the yule log and holiday traditions. (Across the street from the Green)7:30                     Follow carolers to the Harpers Ferry Christmas Tree lighting.This event is co-sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association.

Starts inside the tent on the Green in historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry.

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Visitor Center plaza.

Visitor Center plaza

I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in ......More

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in historic Lower Town. All activities are set against the backdrop of Harpers Ferry in 1864, when the U.S. Army had transformed the town into a major logistics center during the Civil War.This event includes demonstrations of firing historic weapons. Please expect loud noices, and prepare children and pets. 11:00-4:00      Exhibits throughout Lower Town will be staffed with park rangers and volunteers in 1860s attire.11:00-2:00      Harpers Ferry's Trains: Railing Against the Enemy. This electric model train demonstration helps to tell the park's transportation history before, during, and after the Civil War. Join knowledgeable volunteers to learn how the railroads were used in pre-war times for US Armory, heavy industry, Civil War troops and equipment movement, and of course, passengers. For children of all ages. (Allies for Freedom room, 2nd floor of the John Brown Museum.)12:00-3:00      Decking the Halls: Ornaments for the Tree. Make 19th century tin tinsel tin spiral decorations, tin stars, and edible ornaments to use on your tree at home. (In the tent on The Green)12:00-4:00      Fresh Bread for Sheridan's Army. Observe a baking demonstration in a beehive oven (In the courtyard behind the John Brown Museum)1:00-3:00         Civil War Slippers for the Sick and Wounded. The outpouring of hand-made goods, funds, and care was so vast that the relief effort was described as “an artery of the people's love to the people's army." This sewing demonstration will tell the story of both the national and local civilian and military efforts to sustain the Union Army. Stop in to see how a historic pattern of slippers aimed at the sick and wounded soldiers were made by women all across the country. (Ready Made Clothing Store.)2:00                     Captain Flagg's US Quartermaster City. It's the last Yuletide of the Civil War. The war will determine the Union of the States and eventual freedom of 4 million enslaved people. This ranger-guided begins inside the tent on the Green and includes a historic weapons firing demonstration. Please expect loud noises and prepare pets and children.3:00-5:00         Grand Military and Citizens’ Ball. Join the 34th Massachusetts officers and their wives as they host a Victorian dance. Dance instruction provided by the Victorian Dance Ensemble to period dance music by Wheaton's Parlor Orchestra. (In the tent on The Green)This event is co-sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association.

Throughout historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry.

I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in ......More

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in historic Lower Town. All activities are set against the backdrop of Harpers Ferry in 1864, when the U.S. Army had transformed the town into a major logistics center during the Civil War.This event includes demonstrations of firing historic weapons. Please expect loud noices, and prepare children and pets.11:00-4:00      Exhibits throughout Lower Town will be staffed with park rangers and volunteers in 1860s attire.12:00-2:00      Harpers Ferry's Trains: Railing Against the Enemy. This electric model train demonstration helps to tell the park's transportation history before, during, and after the Civil War. Join knowledgeable volunteers to learn how the railroads were used in pre-war times for US Armory, heavy industry, Civil War troops and equipment movement, and of course, passengers. For children of all ages. (Allies for Freedom room, 2nd floor of the John Brown Museum.)1:00-3:00         Civil War Slippers for the Sick and Wounded. The outpouring of hand-made goods, funds, and care was so vast that the relief effort was described as “an artery of the people's love to the people's army." This sewing demonstration will tell the story of both the national and local civilian and military efforts to sustain the Union Army. Stop in to see how a historic pattern of slippers aimed at the sick and wounded soldiers were made by women all across the country. (Ready Made Clothing Store.)2:00                     Captain Flagg's US Quartermaster City. It's the last Yuletide of the Civil War. The war will determine the Union of the States and eventual freedom of 4 million enslaved people. This ranger-guided begins inside the tent on the Green and includes a historic weapons firing demonstration. Please expect loud noises and prepare pets and children.3:00-4:00         Harpers Ferry's Trains: Railing Against the Enemy. This electric model train demonstration helps to tell the park's transportation history before, during, and after the Civil War. Join knowledgeable volunteers to learn how the railroads were used in pre-war times for US Armory, heavy industry, Civil War troops and equipment movement, and of course, passengers. For children of all ages. (Allies for Freedom room, 2nd floor of the John Brown Museum.)This event is co-sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association.

Throughout historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry.

I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in ......More

Enjoy family-focused holiday fun in historic Lower Town at Harpers Ferry NHP! Experience a Union-garrisoned town during the 1864 Christmas season in "I’ll be Home for Christmas: 1864." The park will host a series of family-friendly, fun activities and demonstrations in historic Lower Town. All activities are set against the backdrop of Harpers Ferry in 1864, when the U.S. Army had transformed the town into a major logistics center during the Civil War.This event includes demonstrations of firing historic weapons. Please expect loud noices, and prepare children and pets. 11:00-4:00      Exhibits throughout Lower Town will be staffed with park rangers and volunteers in 1860s attire.11:00-2:00      Harpers Ferry's Trains: Railing Against the Enemy. This electric model train demonstration helps to tell the park's transportation history before, during, and after the Civil War. Join knowledgeable volunteers to learn how the railroads were used in pre-war times for US Armory, heavy industry, Civil War troops and equipment movement, and of course, passengers. For children of all ages. (Allies for Freedom room, 2nd floor of the John Brown Museum.)12:00-3:00      Decking the Halls: Ornaments for the Tree. Make 19th century tin tinsel tin spiral decorations, tin stars, and edible ornaments to use on your tree at home. (In the tent on The Green)12:00-4:00      Fresh Bread for Sheridan's Army. Observe a baking demonstration in a beehive oven (In the courtyard behind the John Brown Museum)1:00-3:00         Civil War Slippers for the Sick and Wounded. The outpouring of hand-made goods, funds, and care was so vast that the relief effort was described as “an artery of the people's love to the people's army." This sewing demonstration will tell the story of both the national and local civilian and military efforts to sustain the Union Army. Stop in to see how a historic pattern of slippers aimed at the sick and wounded soldiers were made by women all across the country. (Ready Made Clothing Store.)2:00                     Captain Flagg's US Quartermaster City. It's the last Yuletide of the Civil War. The war will determine the Union of the States and eventual freedom of 4 million enslaved people. This ranger-guided begins inside the tent on the Green and includes a historic weapons firing demonstration. Please expect loud noises and prepare pets and children.3:00-5:00         Grand Military and Citizens’ Ball. Join the 34th Massachusetts officers and their wives as they host a Victorian dance. Dance instruction provided by the Victorian Dance Ensemble to period dance music by Wheaton's Parlor Orchestra. (In the tent on The Green)This event is co-sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association.

Throughout historic Lower Town, Harpers Ferry.

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.

Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Visitor Center plaza.

Visitor Center plaza

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.

Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Visitor Center plaza.

Visitor Center plaza

The Story Behind the Scenery

Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.

Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.