SAVANNAH, GA -Fort Pulaski National Monument will commemorate the 156th anniversary of the Grand Thanksgiving Fete and Festival of 1862 on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. 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 also include guided fort tours and a period “Dress Parade; from 11:00-3:00, visitors are encouraged to try on soldier uniforms, dresses, and children’s outfits.
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018
Event Schedule
10:30 a.m. Guided Fort Tour
11:30 The Races 1:30 Guided Fort Tour
2:30 The Races
3:30 Guided Fort Tour
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 park website at www.nps.gov/FortPulaski or call (912) 786-5787. You can also follow the park on Instagram at www.instagram.com/FortPulaskiNPS, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS, or like the official Fort Pulaski National Monument Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.
-NPS-
Tags: thanksgiving family activities opt outside living history news release
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
