News Release

2023 Labor Day Weekend Events

Date: August 29, 2023
Contact: Fort Larned Visitor Center, 620-285-6911

FORT LARNED – Labor Day Weekend traditionally signals the end of summer. Bring your summer to a historic close with a weekend of fun and learning at Fort Larned’s Labor Day Weekend Living History Event.

Volunteers and staff will once again bring Fort Larned to life during the Labor Day Weekend living history event. Get a glimpse into the life of a frontier soldier with rifle and artillery firing demonstrations, and their life in the army.  You can also visit with officers’ wives, as well as watch the post blacksmith use a forge and anvil to transform iron into everyday objects.Come out and end your summer with a celebration of our nation’s history. 

Here is the schedule of events for all three days.

Saturday 
10:00 - Blacksmithing Demonstration  
11:00 - Steadfast Springfields - Small Arms firing demonstration with Springfield Rifles from the 1860s and 1870s  
1:00 – Ladies of Officers’ Row 
2:00 - Howitzer Hop - Artillery firing demonstration with a Mountain Howitzer and Instant Artillery crew 
3:00 - Hilt and Blade - swords at Fort Larned and their uses 
4:30 – Retreat Ceremony  

Sunday 
10:00 - Blacksmithing Demonstration  
11:00 - Steadfast Springfields - Small Arms firing demonstration with Springfield Rifles from the 1860s and 1870s  
1:00 – Ladies of Officers’ Row 2:00 - Howitzer Hop - Artillery firing demonstration with a Mountain Howitzer and Instant Artillery crew 
3:00 - Footsteps - live recording of Fort Larned’s podcast — we’d love to hear from you!
4:30 – Retreat Ceremony

Monday 
10:00 - Blacksmithing Demonstration  
11:00 - Steadfast Springfields - Small Arms firing demonstration with Springfield Rifles from the 1860s and 1870s  
1:00 – Ladies of Officers’ Row 
2:00 - Howitzer Hop - Artillery firing demonstration with a Mountain Howitzer and Instant Artillery crew  
4:30 – Retreat Ceremony  

Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. For information about visiting, go to our Plan Your Visit page, call 620-285-6911, or email us. For information on area tourism partners, lodging, dining, and community services go to www.larnedks.org or call [phone].