SAVANNAH - Fort Pulaski National Monument will commemorate the 155th anniversary of the Grand Thanksgiving Fete and Festival of 1862 on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The event will recreate the field day offered by the 48th New York Infantry to celebrate their first Thanksgiving at Fort Pulaski.
The original event, held in 1862, gave the Union garrison of Fort Pulaski a respite from the constant vigilance which they maintained throughout their year-long residence on Cockspur Island. Of the day’s events, one soldier commented, “The day was a memorable one, contrasting as it did so severely with the events which placed us there and continued to disturb the country."
Everyone is encouraged to opt outside this Black Friday and participate in foot races, sack races, and wheelbarrow races. Amusements of the day will include guided tours of the fort and a special program about Thanksgiving at the fort in 1862.
The event will also be an opportunity to try on clothing of the Civil War era. All are encouraged to participate in the “dress parade". There will be clothing for men, women and children, as well as accessories for the proper
period look.
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
10:30 a.m. Guided Fort Tour
11:30 The Races! Public Competition
12:30 p.m. Special Program: A Civil War Thanksgiving
1:30 Guided Fort Tour
2:30 The Races! Public Competition
3:30 Special Program: A Civil War Thanksgiving
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Dress Parade (Try on Civil War-era clothing)
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. For more information, please visit the website of Fort Pulaski National Monument at www.nps.gov/fopu or call (912) 786-8182. You can also follow the park on Instagram at www.instagram.com/FortPulaskiNPS, Twitter at www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS or like the official Fort Pulaski National Monument Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.
- NPS -
Tags: opt outside find your park civil war family activities thanksgiving
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
