Date: October 24, 2011
Contact: William Sawyer, (315) 338-7730
The fall season often brings about thoughts of harvest celebrations and festivals, with perhaps the possibility of a ghoul or ghost crossing our path. From 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. and 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29th, visitors to the park can learn what the harvest time meant to people at Fort Stanwix and the Mohawk Valley.
"Parole, Countersign and Turnips" gives visitors a chance to enlist in the Tryon County Militia and learn the military drill that helped local families protect their homes and harvests from British attacks.
Visitors will then get the chance to decorate their own turnips, the predecessor to our modern day Jack-O-Lanterns, and learn more about where some of our other Halloween traditions come from.
Registration is required to take part in this event simply to ensure we have enough supplies for everyone. Please contact the park at (315) 338-7730 to reserve a spot. Just tell us the number of people who will be attending and whether you will be taking part in the morning or afternoon program.
Fort Stanwix National Monument is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the park is free. Activities are ongoing unless noted. For more information about upcoming events please call the park at (315) 338-7730. Please visit the park's web page at www.nps.gov/fost for additional information about the park and up-to-date news about park events.
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