NPS 
NPS Photo All black powder firing demonstrations are dependent on specifically trained staff availability and local fire restrictions. Organized groups of more than 12 are recommended to contact the visitor center ahead of time for special program requests. All programs are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or limited staffing. Please check with staff directly or call the Visitor Center. Weather forecast information for the Fort Union National Monument area can be found at weather.gov using Watrous, NM or zip code 87753. --- JANUARY Crackling Embers – The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available. Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Second Fort Sundays – Enjoy a guided tour that focuses on the Civil War era fieldwork and led by a costumed living history interpreter. 30 minutes. Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm FEBRUARY Second Fort Sundays – Enjoy a guided tour that focuses on the Civil War era fieldwork and led by a costumed living history interpreter. 30 minutes. Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Crackling Embers – The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available. Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Second Fort Sundays – Enjoy a guided tour that focuses on the Civil War era fieldwork and led by a costumed living history interpreter. 30 minutes. Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
Harun Mehmedinovic MARCH
Second Fort Sundays – Enjoy a guided tour that focuses on the Civil War era fieldwork and led by a costumed living history interpreter. 30 minutes. Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862 – Learn of the 2nd fort’s construction, the Battle of Glorieta Pass and more. 60-minute program. Seating provided. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm APRIL Your Junior Ranger Days – Play games, make crafts, earn a badge, interact with rangers, and enjoy your park during these 60-minute programs! Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Lantern Lit Legacies – Why preserve these ruins? Discover this site’s legacy as the sun has set and lanterns now shine during this 45-minute tour. (Historic area only open for this tour’s participants after 4:00 pm on these dates) Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:00 pm Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:00 pm Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 7:00 pm An International Dark Sky Park – Experience the night sky as rangers share fun facts, celestial stories and guide you in the observation of deep sky objects through park provided viewers. 60 to 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. All grounds and gates will close at 9:30 pm) Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:45 pm Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:45 pm Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 7:45 pm MAY Historic Weapon Weekends – Of atlatls, bows and arrows and firearms on the frontier! Experience demonstrations and discussions of several types of historic weapons during this one-hour program. Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
NPS Photo Dineh Tah’ Navajo Cultural Program – Experience a presentation by Director Shawn Price along with traditional and semi-contemporary Navajo dances. (Photography / videography may be limited during performances of this special program) Saturday, June 6, 2026, program times still to be determined Fort Union Days – This annual event will feature two special 60-minute programs each day of historic weapons demonstrations and living history camp! Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Your Junior Ranger Days – Play games, make crafts, earn a badge, interact with rangers, and enjoy your park during these 60-minute programs! Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Fort Fashions & Pastimes – Discover 1800s clothing styles and leisure activities and how they related to economics and social structure. 60-minute program. Friday, June 19, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm JULY America’s 250th – Join us for programs on the evolving flags, firearms and uniforms of Fort Union’s 40-year history as part of a United States Territory. 1 hour. Friday, July 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm AUGUST First Fort & Arsenal Tours – Visit where Fort Union began. These 2-hour programs include living history, historical weapons, and time to explore! Car caravans depart from the visitor center at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm.(Only available via car caravan at these times, area has rough and uneven terrain) Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, August 16, at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm Your Junior Ranger Days – Play games, make crafts, earn a badge, interact with rangers, and enjoy your park during these 60-minute programs! Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, August 23, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
NPS Photo SEPTEMBER
“A Play of Candlelight” Annual Program – Living history staff will guide visitors on a journey of Fort Union’s historic personalities, intrigues, and tales. (Each tour lasts about 45 minutes) Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm OCTOBER Lantern Lit Legacies – Why preserve these ruins? Discover this site’s legacy as the sun has set and lanterns now shine during this 45-minute tour. (Historic area only open for this tour’s participants after 4:00 pm on these dates) Friday, October 2, 2026, at 6:30 pm Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6:30 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 6:30 pm An International Dark Sky Park – Experience the night sky as rangers share fun facts, celestial stories and guide you in the observation of deep sky objects through park provided viewers. 60 to 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. All grounds and gates will close at 9:30 pm) Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7:15 pm Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:15 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 7:15 pm Lantern Lit Legacies – Why preserve these ruins? Discover this site’s legacy as the sun has set and lanterns now shine during this 45-minute tour.(Historic area only open for this tour’s participants after 4:00 pm on these dates) Friday, October 9, 2026, at 6:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:00 pm An International Dark Sky Park – Experience the night sky as rangers share fun facts, celestial stories and guide you in the observation of deep sky objects through park provided viewers. 60 to 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. All grounds and gates will close at 9:30 pm) Friday, October 9, 2026, at 6:45 pm Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 6:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:45 pm Of Smoke & Powder – 60-minute programs with cannons, small arms and firing demonstrations. Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:45 pm Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 6:45 pm A Ghost Story – Good stories don’t have to be true! Join staff for a peculiar Fort Union tale told around a campfire followed by a lantern tour. 90 minutes. Saturday, October 30, 2026, at 5:30 pm 
Harpers Weekly, January 3, 1863. Ruins Walk – A 60 to 90-minutes, 1-mile journey that enters the ruins, discussing history, fort preservation efforts, and the importance of concentrated impact.(Tour enters rough, unlevel terrain. Park provided reflective vest is required to be worn) Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Santa Fe Trail Stroll – This guided interpretive walk follows beside the historic trail to the park’s northern boundary and back covering about 2-miles. 90 minutes.(Tour enters rough, unlevel terrain. Park provided reflective vest is required to be worn) Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00 am Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 10:00 am ---PARK CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY – NOVEMBER 26, 2026--- Of Laundresses & Soldiers – Learn about a typical day for those stationed and working at Fort Union along with their uniforms and equipment. 1 Hour Friday, November 27, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm DECEMBER Crackling Embers – The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available. Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Farolitos and Falling Mercury – Find out how Christmas was celebrated by those at Fort Union and the local area. Craft your own farolito (luminaria) and enjoy the reading of a short story. 60-minutes. Monday, December 21, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Tuesday, December 22, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 23, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Thursday, December 24, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm ---PARK CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY – DECEMBER 25, 2026--- Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, December 27, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm |
Last updated: December 13, 2025