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Special Events

Upcoming Events at Cowpens National Battlefield

Guided battlefield walks 11:30 a.m. on weekends April 22 - October 8

September 23: SC Rangers Living History Day 18th Century weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 .

October 6: The Night before Kings Mountain Outdoor drama presented by the Overmountain Victory Trail Association depicting the march leading up to the Battle of Kings Mountain. 6pm - 7pm. Event is free to the public.

October 6-8: Upstate Revolutionary War Weekend A series of Revolutionary War activities at Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Gaffney, SC, and Walnut Grove Plantation. Detailed schedule should be available by mid-September."
DRAFT schedule for only the Cowpens National Battlefield portion of the event
October 6 - 6:00 pm The Night before Kings Mountain

October 7 - Continental Camp of Instruction
9:00 - Muster and Roll Call
10:00 - Company-based drill
11:00 - Battalion-based drill
11:30 - Battlefield tour
12:30 - Dr. Melissa Walker "Revitalization of the Continental War Effort"
2:30 - Court Martial Scenarios (based on cases heard by Otho Williams' brigade)
3:30 - Artillery drill and program

October 8 - Continental Camp of Instruction
11:00 - Divine Service
12:30 - Battlefield tour
1:00 - March out through the battlefield
3:30 - Battlefield tour

October 28: SC Rangers Living History Day 18th Century weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 .

October 28: Find Your Park after Dark Astronomy program, time TBD.

January 13-14, 2018 Anniversary Celebration Schedule should be available by late December

 

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  236th Battle Anniversary (2017)

  11 Photos

  Each year, the park commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens on the weekend closest to the anniversary of the Battle.

 

Previous 2017 Events

January 13, 2017 236th Anniversary Celebration offsite

2:30 pm Daniel Morgan Statue, Spartanburg, SC - Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Children of the American Revolution flower presentation ceremony

7:00 pm Spartanburg County Library Headquarders, Spartanburg, SC - Greenville Chautauqua, the Spartanburg County Library System, and the Sons of the American Revolution to present Ken Johnson portraying Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, British commander at the Battle of Cowpens.

January 14 - 15, 2017 236th Anniversary Celebration onsite

Each year we celebrate the patriot victory at the Battle of Cowpens on the weekend closest to the anniversary. Click here for a printable schedule on the 2017 event.

January 21 Race for the Grasshopper
For over thirty years, Cowpens National Battlefield has worked with the Spartanburg Running Club to honor the race to capture the two British “grasshopper” cannons at the end of the Battle of Cowpens into an annual competitive 5k run/walk and a 1-mile fun run. This year the fun run will begin at 8:30 am, and the 5k at 9:00. For more information, contact Spartanburg Running Club at http://www.spartanburgrunningclub.com/.

April 15: SC Rangers Living History Day 18th Century weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 .

April 15: Junior Ranger Day 10:00 - 2:00, special activities for children

April 29: Park Rx Day 10:30, Hike the Nature Trail with a ranger.

April 29-30: Living History Weekend 71st Highlanders (British) encampment. Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 on Saturday.

May 5: Picnic with a Purpose 12:30 pm in visitor center museum. Ron Swain from the Spartanburg County Historical Association and Brad Steinecke, archivist at the Spartanburg Public Library on Friday, May 5 at noon.will present a program about the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Cowpens. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy under the trees behind the visitor center following the program.

June 3-4: Living History Weekend 1st Maryland, Southern Campaign encampment (American Continentals) Weapons firing demonstrations at 11:15, 1:45, and 3:15. CANCELLED

June 24: SC Rangers Living History Day 18th Century weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 .

July 1: Celebration of Freedom
Guided battlefield walks, 18th century weapons firing demonstrations, children's activities, and more. Click for Printable schedule.

August 26: SC Rangers Living History Day 18th Century weapons firing demonstrations at 10:15, 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15 .

Previous 2016 Events

April 9: Park Day

April 16 - 24: National Park Week

April 16: Find Your Park After Dark - Star Gazing Program 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

April 23: Junior Ranger Day

June 4: Living History Day- 1st Maryland, Southern Campaign encampment (American Continentals) Weapons firing demonstrations at 11:15, 1:45, and 3:15.

June 11: Living History Day- New Acquisition Militia - featuring activities such as sewing, chair caning, rifle making, and weapons firing demos. At 2:30 there will be a talk on "The Year of 1780 - Turning from Uncertainty to Victory".

June 18: Living History Day- SC Rangers (American Militia). Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

August 6: Living History Day- SC Rangers (American Militia). Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

August 13: Find Your Park After Dark - Star Gazing Program

August 25: Founders Day -Join us as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service's founding. You only turn 100 once, so we're going big for the Centennial Celebration: birthday cake, party hats, and pin the tail on the cow! 11:00 - 2:00.

September 10: Living History Day- SC Rangers (American Militia). Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.

September 24: Living History Day- 1st Maryland, Southern Campaign encampment (American Continentals) Weapons firing demonstrations at 11:15, 1:45, and 3:15.

October 1 - 2:North Carolina Highland Regiment (71st Highlanders) encampment. Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30 on Saturday, and 12:30 and 1:30 on Sunday.

October 1-9: Revolutionary War Weekend:A series of Revolutionary War activities at Walnut Grove Plantation, Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Gaffney, SC. Please note:The activities listed on the link above are for each of the sites. Call the specific site for information about activities happening there.
Cowpens National Battlefield Schedule for October 1
10:30 Small arms firing demonstration
11:00 Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Walk
11:30 Small arms firing demonstration
12:30 Special talk by 71st Highlanders about their unit
12:45 Battlefield walk
1:30 Small arms firing demonstration
2:30 Small arms firing demonstration
2:45 Battlefield walk

Cowpens National Battlefield Schedule for October 2
12:30 Small Arms firing demonstration
1:30 Small Arms firing demonstration

October 6: Outdoor Drama-The Night before Kings MountainOutdoor drama presented by the Overmountain Victory Trail Association depicting the march leading up to the Battle of Kings Mountain.6pm - 7pm. Event is free to the public.

October 22: Living History Day: SC Rangers (American Militia) Weapons firing demonstrations at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 2:30.