December
- (Dec 31 - Jan 1, 2012)
Old Fort Niagara will close at noon on New Year's Eve. The Fort will be closed on New Year's Day. We will reopen at 9:00 am on Monday, January 2.
January
- Twelfth Night Ball (Jan 7, 2012)
Celebrate the traditional end of the holiday season with 18th century country dancing, live period music, libations, food and merriment. 7:00 - 11:00 pm
Tickets are $40.00 per person by advance purchase only. Call the Fort at (716) 745-7611 after December 1, 2011.
- Snowshoe Patrol (Jan 14, 2012)
Learn about the history of snowshoes and accompany the troops on a winter expedition. Other activities inside the Fort illustrate how frontier soldiers, civilians, and Native Americans passed the winter including the Hodenosaunee game of snow snakes.
Activities from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
11:30 Presentation on Snow Snakes- Log Cabin
11:30 - 12:30 Demonstration of Snow Snakes (weather permitting)
1:30 Presentation: History of the Snowshoe by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in the Visitor Center Theater.
2:00 pm Snowshoe Patrol and Woods Battle. Visitors will leave the Fort with an armed escort and venture into the woods along Lake Ontario. (Note: Patrol will proceed with or without snow-we will not use snowshoes if there is no ground cover of snow).
3:30 pm Free Hot Chocolate back at the Fort
March
- Tavern Night (Mar 3, 2012)
7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Fort Niagara Officers Club.
Spend a lively evening at a not-so-upscale 18th century tavern. Enjoy common tavern fare, tasty beverages, and encounter some unsavory 18th century characters. Play 18th century games and enjoy live period music.
Tickets are $30.00 per person, available by advance reservation and payment only. Available after January 10, 2012. Call (716) 745-7611.
- Tavern Night (Mar 10, 2012)
7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Fort Niagara Officers Club
Spend a lively evening at a not-so-upscale 18th century tavern. Enjoy common tavern fare, tasty beverages, and encounter some unsavory 18th century characters. Play 18th century games and enjoy live period music.
Tickets are $30.00 per person, available by advance reservation and payment only. Available after January 10, 2012. Call (716) 745-7611.
April
- Patriots Day (Apr 21 - Apr 22, 2012)
Commemorating the beginning of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775 this event features living history demonstrations, musket firing, and storytelling. 10 am - 4 pm.
Sponsored by Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Great Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc., Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
- Ecole du Soldat (Apr 28 - Apr 29, 2012)
Reenactors portraying French soldiers, milice, and Native allies garrison the Fort.
Sponsored by Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Great Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc., Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
May
- French Heritage Day (May 4, 2012)
From 9:30 am to 1:00 pm middle and high school French language and social studies students are immersed in 18th century New France. Twenty interpretive stations, many with hands-on activities, explore the architecture, music, military life, religion, travel, foodways, work, clothing and folklore of 18th century New France. Admission is $7.00 per person, teachers are free.
- Civil War Artillery School (May 12, 2012)
Civil War Artillery School explores the role of Fort Niagara during the mid-19th century with special tours and musket demonstrations. Meanwhile, Civil War artillerists and infantry perfect their craft during this spring training day. Events from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Sponsored by M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
- Archaeology Lecture (May 23, 2012)
Lecture: What I Did Last Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring: Adventures in Avocational Archaeology by Bill Utley.
7:30 pm Old Fort Niagara Visitor Center
Lecture sponsored by a grant from the National Park Service.
- Soldiers through the Ages (May 26 - May 27, 2012)
A Memorial Day weekend tribute to Niagara's veterans. Special displays and demonstrations depict military life from the 18th century through the War of 1812 to World War Two. Activities 10 am - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Join the Youngstown Veterans of Foreign Wars on Memorial Day, Monday, at 11:00 am at the War of 1812 Cemetery for a service in memory of our fallen veterans.
Sponsored by M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
June
- Declaration of War Commemoration (Jun 16, 2012)
This event commemorates the Declaration of War June 18, 1812 with the following activities:
10:00 am Flag Raising Ceremony followed by musket salute.
10:30 am Special Tour: Fort Niagara in the War of 1812
11:00 am 1812 Musket Firing Demonstration
11:30 am 1812 Recruiting and Kids Drill
Noon Artillery Demonstration
1:00 pm Hot Shot Demonstration
1:30 pm Stars and Stripes over US Coast Guard Station Niagara. Volunteers raise the replica 28' x 24' Fort Niagara Garrison Colors at US Coast Guard Station Niagara.
2:00 pm Dedication of new Betsy Doyle Exhibit Panel.
2:30 pm Special Tour: Fort Niagara in the War of 1812
3:00 pm 1812 Musket Demonstration
3:30 pm 1812 Children’s Games
4:00 pm United States Artillery Demonstration
Ongoing Activities: Life in the First US Artillery Regiment, Foodways of 1812, Blacksmithing demonstrations.
Sponsored by The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
July
- French and Indian War Encampment (Jul 6 - Jul 8, 2012)
America's largest annual French and Indian War Encampment returns to Old Fort Niagara with battle reenactments, large living history camps, Native American councils, military music, food and much more. Watch the battle from the perspective of a soldier in Compagnie de Lacorne at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xska01caVA8
Sponsored by M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
August
- Soldiers of the Revolution (Aug 11 - Aug 12, 2012)
Liberty or Loyalty? That is the question each must answer during this interactive event that brings the American Revolution to life. Forces of Crown and Congress do battle at the Fort as we recreate the frontier war of the American Revolution. Living history programs, battle demonstrations, hands-on activities for the entire family, food.
Sponsored by M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
September
- War of 1812 Encampment (Sep 1 - Sep 2, 2012)
American and British forces recreate the War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier. Programs daily from 10 am - 4 pm and a night battle depicting the British capture of Fort Niagara on Saturday at 7pm.
Sponsored by M & T Bank, Local Edge, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Greater Niagara Mechanical, Wolfe Lumber Mill, Inc. Reid Petroleum Corporation, Ashkers Cafe and Ice Cream, The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, Brennan's Irish Pub, Main St. Pizzeria.
October
- The Haunted Fortress (Oct 20, 2012)
OLD FORT NIAGARA’S GHOSTS FROM THE PAST RETURN FOR THE HAUNTED FORTRESS
As the leaves change their colors and the temperatures begin to drop, the spirits return to Old Fort Niagara for the annual Haunted Fortress. For two nights only, visitors will experience the dark side of Fort Niagara as ghosts and ghouls from the past walk among the historic buildings.
- The Haunted Fortress (Oct 27, 2012)
OLD FORT NIAGARA’S GHOSTS FROM THE PAST RETURN FOR THE HAUNTED FORTRESS
As the leaves change their colors and the temperatures begin to drop, the spirits return to Old Fort Niagara for the annual Haunted Fortress. For two nights only, visitors will experience the dark side of Fort Niagara as ghosts and ghouls from the past walk among the historic buildings.