Cowpens Event Archives

Please click on the links below to read about a previous event.

Previous Fiscal Year 2014 Events

July 5
Celebration of Freedom - Download printable schedule
9:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
9:45 Ranger Talk: Southern Campaign - 20 minutes - Program Tent
10:15 Weapons firing demonstration
10:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
11:00 Superintendent's welcome and reading of the Declaration of Independence
11:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
11:45 Dr. Bill Brockington talk: Are they Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish? - Program Tent
12:15 Weapons firing demonstration
12:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
12:45 Ranger Talk: Southern Campaign - 20 minutes - Program Tent
1:15 Weapons firing demonstration
1:30 Battlefield walk led by Dr. Bill Brockington
2:15 Weapons firing demonstration
2:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
2:45 Marilyn McMinn-McCredie:
Stories, hammer dulcimer music, and 18th century children's games - Program Tent
3:15 Weapons firing demonstration
3:30 1.25 mile Ranger-guided battlefield walk - 1 hour.
3:45 Ranger Talk: Southern Campaign - 20 minutes - Program Tent

Children's Activities - Children's Tent
11:00 - 12:00 Quill pen writing
12:00 - 1:00 Cartridge Rolling
1:00 - 2:00 Sachets
2:00 - 3:00 Whirligigs
3:00 - 4:00 Spinners

June 28
Scholar Series: Bert Dunkerly, author of Women of the American Revolution: Bravery and Sacrifice on the Southern Battlefields, will speak about the roles of women during the war. His book is for sale in our park's bookstore, and he will be available to sign them following his talk. Visitor Center, 10:00.

March 16
Book Signing: John Buchanan, author of The Road to Guilford Courthouse, Visitor Center 3:00 - 4:45.

March 15-16
Living History Weekend: Upper Broad Regiment encampment. The Upper Broad Regiment is a group of 18th Century Loyalist reenactors. They will have weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Race for the Grasshopper - 10:00 am - At the close of the Battle of Cowpens in 1781, two American officers—confident in victory—raced for the ultimate prize, a British three-pounder cannon, called the “Grasshopper”. Join the race and celebrate the 233rd anniversary of this historic victory! For registration and more information, contact the Spartanburg Running Club at http://www.spartanburgrunningclub.com/.

January 18 - 19, 2014
233rd Anniversary Celebration Printer friendly schedule

Saturday
10:00 am Wreath-laying by SAR, DAR, and CAR chapters at the 1932 US Monument in front of the Visitor Center, welcome by the National Park Service, followed by procession to the 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument.

10:00 am Reenactor Competitions, i.e, skillet throws and bayonet competitions beside the Firing Range, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

10:30 am Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

11:00 am Program tent: Genealogy workshop presented by DAR and SAR.

11:15 am 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

11:30 am Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

11:45 am 18th century cavalry demonstration, first stop on the battlefield trail to the left of the Visitor Center.

12:00 pm Program tent: Eric Williams presents “18th Century Medicine.”

12:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

12:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

12:45 pm Guilford Fife & Drum concert at the Washington Light Infantry Monument.

1:00 pm Program tent: Living Historian Scott Hodges portrays Andrew Pickens.

1:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

1:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

1:45 pm 18th century cavalry demonstration, first stop on the battlefield trail to the left of the Visitor Center.

2:00 pm Program Tent: COL Neal Moore of the Washington Light Infantry will present a talk about the History of the Washington Light Infantry Monument.

2:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

2:30 pm Guided battlefield walk with military historian George Fields. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

3:00 pm Program tent: Guilford Fife & Drum concert.

3:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

3:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

3:45 pm 18th century cavalry demonstration, first stop on the battlefield trail to the left of the Visitor Center.

4:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

4:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

5:30 pm Program tent: Guilford Fife & Drum concert.

5:30 - 6:20 pm Twilight walks on the battlefield. (Dress warmly and bring a flashlight.) Walks leave every 10 minutes until 6:20. Meet behind the Visitor Center at your ticketed time.

7:00 pm Visitor Center closes.

Sunday
9:30 am Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

9:45 am Guilford Fife & Drum concert at the US Monument in front of the
Visitor Center.

10:15 am 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

10:30 am Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

10:45 am 18th century cavalry demonstration, first stop on the battlefield trail.

11:00 am Program tent: Divine Service (18th century church service)

11:15 am 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

11:30 am Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

11:45 am Guilford Fife & Drum concert at the Washington Light Monument.

12:00 Program tent: Presentation about Elizabeth Jackson by Sheila Ingle, author of Brave Elizabeth, followed by a book signing in the Visitor Center.

12:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

12:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

12:45 pm Guilford Fife & Drum concert at the Washington Light Monument.

1:15 pm18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

1:30 pm Program Tent: Arrival of Morgan’s March participants.

1:45pm 18th century cavalry demonstration, first stop on the battlefield trail to the left of the Visitor Center.

2:00 pm Presentation on Militiamen after the Battle of Cowpens by Dr. Christine Swager, followed by book-signing in the Visitor Center.

2:15 pm 18th century weapons firing demonstration, behind and to the right of the Visitor Center.

2:30 pm Battlefield walk with military historian Joel Rexford. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

3:00 pm Program tent: Presentation on “Kings Mountain and Cowpens” Joe Epley followed by book-signing in the Visitor Center.

3:30 pm Ranger-guided battlefield walk. Meet behind the Visitor Center.

Both Days
All activities are FREE!
Park movie on the hour in the Visitor Center.
Featured authors will be available to sign books in the Visitor Center for an hour following their respective talks.
For your safety and that of the horses, park regulations prohibit visitors from getting within 6 feet of the horses.

Children’s Activities
Saturday: 11:00 - 4:45; Sunday: 12:00 - 3:15
Hands-on activities for families in the Children’s Tent, behind the
Visitor Center. Changes to the following schedule will be posted on
the chalkboard outside the Children’s Tent.

Saturday
11:00 Quill pen writing
12:00 Sachets
1:00 Tin punch
2:00 Horn book
3:00 Cartridge rolling
4:00 Whirligigs

Sunday
12:00 Quill pen writing
1:00 Whirligigs
2:00 Sachets
3:00 Cartridge rolling

On the three-quarter hour (Saturday 11:45 - 3:45; Sunday 11:45 - 2:45) Musket
drilling with dummy guns.

Previous FY 2013 Events

November 15 - After hours talk by Dr. H. Paul Thompson, Jr. of North Greenville University, 5:30 visitor center museum

November 17 - 18 - A Backcountry Holiday - American Colonial Civilian Interpreters at the Visitor Center all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Various family activities will be at the Scruggs House, 1:30 - 4:00, on Sunday.

January 12, 2013
Race for the Grasshopper. At the end of the Battle of Cowpens, two American officers raced each other to capture the two British cannons. Each year, Cowpens National Battlefield holds a 1 mile fun run/walk and a 5k run to in remembrance of this event. Sponsored by the Spartanburg Running Club, the 1-mile fun run begins at 9:30, and the 5k begins at 10:00. For more information, please visit http://www.spartanburgrunningclub.com/

January 19 - 20, 2013
Anniversary Celebration. Please join us for special talks, guided battlefield walks, weapons firing, calvary, and domestic skills demonstrations, and much more. For the complete schedule of events, click here.

February 4, 2013
Scholar Series. Author Jim Piecuch will give a talk about Nathanael Greene at 5:30 in the Visitor Center museum.

March 31
Join a reenactor at the Scruggs House and learn about egg dyeing; 1:30 - 4:00.

April 27
Junior Ranger Day - From 10:00 - 3:30 on Saturday, April 27, the first 75 children 6 years and older who pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Booklet at the Visitor Center, complete the age-appropriate activities, and do one additional activity will earn a special Junior Ranger patch and certificate. The additional activities include attending a living history demonstration by reenactors, or participating in an interactive dummy gun drill, and completing an 18^th century craft, such as making sachets. The Junior Ranger program is designed to have children and adults work together to learn more about the history and environment in our national parks.

April 27 - 28, 2013
71st Highlander Encampment - Cowpens National Battlefield is excited to announce that the North Carolina Highland Regiment/71^st Highlanders will have a living history encampment on April 27-28. This is the first time that the Highlanders have been the featured group for an encampment at Cowpens. The reenactors will portray Fraser's 71^st Highlanders, who fought for the British at the Battle of Cowpens. Their goal is to educate the public about the American Revolution and the Scottish soldiers and settlers of the Carolinas. Visitors can watch the regiment drill, learn the musket drill, visit their camp, and experience what 18^th century soldiers did when they were not fighting a war.

October 4 - 7Upstate Revolutionary War Weekend. A series of Revolutionary War period activities at Walnut Grove Plantation, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Kings Mountain National Military Park.

·Friday, October 47:00 - 9:00 pm at Walnut Grove Plantation, Guided Lantern Tours

·Saturday, October 59:00 am - 5:00 pm at Kings Mountain National Military Park, military encampment10:00 am - 5:00 pm at Walnut Grove Plantation, Festifall10:30 am at Cowpens National Battlefield, Green River Road Talk11:30 am at Cowpens National Battlefield, Colonial medicine and textiles by Common Knowledge12:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, Ranger-guided battlefield walk2:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, Cherokee Peace Chief: Attakullakulla3:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, non-firing cannon demonstration7:00 - 9:00 pm at Kings Mountain National Military Park, Guided Lantern Tours

·Sunday, October 69:00 am - 3:00 pm at Kings Mountain National Military Park, military encampment10:00 am - 4:00 pm at Walnut Grove Plantation, Festifall10:30 am at Cowpens National Battlefield, Green River Road Talk12:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, Ranger-guided battlefield walk2:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, non-firing cannon demonstration3:00 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, Ken Johnston portrays Benedict Arnold4:30 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, discussion and book signing by Robbert W. Brown, Jr., author, Kings Mountain and Cowpens6:00 pm at Cowpens National Battlefield, drama, The Night before Kings Mountain, presented by The Overmountain Victory Trail Association

·Monday, October 79:00 am. - 5:00 pm at Kings Mountain National Military Park, anniversary celebration

For additional information, go to RevWarWeekend.com.

November 11Veterans Day Flag Ceremony 11:00 am

September 13
Living History Day: SC Rangers encampment. The SC Rangers portray the militia and ranging units on the frontier of the south from the 1740s - 1780s. They will have weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

September 6-7
Living History Weekend The Upper Broad Regiment, loyalist reenactors, will demonstrate 18th-century campfire cooking, military and civilian camps, and different backcountry operations. They will give weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

May 19 Bird Walk. Leaves the Visitor Center at 9:00.

May 26 - 27 Hesse Kassel Jaeger Korps Living History Weekend

May 27 Sunday in the Park: Family activities at the Robert Scruggs House.

June 2 National Trails Day

June 2 - 3 1st Maryland Southern Campaign Living History Weekend

January 14 - 15, 2012 231st Battle Anniversary Celebration Click here for details. Schedule is subject to change.

January 7, 2012 Race for the Grasshopper 1 mile fun run and 5K Run/Walk Course USATF Certified

November 20, 2011 Backcountry Holiday at the Robert Scruggs House 1:30 - 4:00

November 5, 2011 Guided bird walk. Leaves Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m.

October 8, 2011 Guided bird walk. Leaves Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m.

October 6, 2011 "Night before Kings Mountain" dramatic presentation 6:00 - 7:00

July 2 Fireworks and Family Fun - Battlefield walks, 18th century weapons firing demonstrations, activities for children, music, and fireworks. For more information, see our detailed schedule.

May 7 - 8 Living History Weekend - Hesse Kassel Jaeger Korps

230th Battle Annivesary, January 15 - 16, 2011

January 17 - 18, 2009 228th Battle Anniversary

August 23-24, 2008 Founders Day Weekend

July 5, 2008 Fireworks and Family Fun

March 22, 2008 Women's History Month

January 19-20, 2008, Battle Anniversary Celebration

November 9-10, 2007, Cavalry Conference

October 6, 2007, 'Twas the Night Before Kings Mountain

November 22
Backcountry Holiday - Visit the Scruggs House from 2:00 - 4:00 and learn how winter holidays were celebrated during colonial times.