Battle Anniversary Information

The 243rd Battle Anniversary

NPS

The battle of Kings Mountain was fought on October 7, 1780, between patriot and loyalist militias and ended in a decisive patriot victory with helped to turn the tide of the war in the Southern Theater. Efforts to commemorate the battle began early. The first commemorative event on the battlefield was held on July 4, 1815. Subsequent commemorations were held in 1855, 1880, 1909, and 1930. Following the establishment of Kings Mountain National Military Park in 1931, commemorations of the battle’s anniversary have been held regularly on an annual basis.

 

150th Anniversary Souvenir Program featuring President Herbert Hoover

NPS

Today, the anniversary of the battle is observed every October 7^th, with a wreath laying ceremony attended by descendants of those who fought in the battle, partner groups, local officials, and members of the public. On the weekend closest to October 7^th, the park offers additional programing and activities as part of the commemoration. The latest information about this year’s anniversary is available below. This page will be updated ahead of the battle anniversary each year starting in July.

 

246^th Battle Anniversary Event Schedule

Anniversary Weekend Saturday & Sunday October 3 &4, 2026

Saturday Event Schedule
For Saturday October 3, 2026 only, there will be free satellite parking and shuttles available at Kings Mountain State Park's Lake Crawford Campground (Lake Crawford RD, Clover, SC 29710) and Kings Mountain RV Resort (241 Battleground RD, Grover, NC 28073). The shuttles will run from 8:45am to 5:00pm.
9:00am Park Opens
9:30am History Row and Living History Encampment Open
Liberty Mountain Performance
10:00am Special Program, TBD
10:30am Southern Campaign Talk, A Conversation with Isaac Shelby
Children’s Book Reading: Blue’s March: An Overmountain Men Tale, With Katie Hatton
11:00am Ferguson Rifle Demonstration
11:30am Guided Battlefield Tour
Liberty Mountain Performance
12:30pm Weapons Demonstration
1:00pm Guest Speaker, Steven Smith- SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology,“Archaeological Investigations of Partisan Warfare in South Carolina, 1780-1783”
1:30pm Guided Battlefield Tour
Children’s Book Reading: Blue’s March: An Overmountain Men Tale, With Katie Hatton
2:00-3:00pm Book Signing, Steven Smith- SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
2:00pm Weapons Demonstration
2:30pm Special Program, TBD
3:00pm Ferguson Rifle Demonstration
4:00pm Weapons Demonstration
4:30pm Southern Campaign Talk
5:00pm Park Closes

Lantern Tours 7:00PM-8:00pm
Registration is Required for lantern tours; Registration is not currently open. Registration will open Wednesday September 30th at 10:00am. The link to register for the lantern tours is below, and will also be posted on the park calendar and on the park Facebook page.

Lantern Tour Registration:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/iJMJNURwRQ

Sunday Event Schedule
9:00am Park Opens
9:30am Special Program, TBD
10:00am Liberty Mountain Performance
Southern Campaign Talk
10:30am Weapon Demonstration
Outlander at Kings Mountain Program
11:00am Rob Ryals, The Wartime Experience of Rev. William Martin
Guided Battlefield Tour
Children’s Book Reading: Blue’s March: An Overmountain Men Tale, With Katie Hatton
11:30am Liberty Mountain Performance
Weapons Demonstration
12:30pm Special Program, TBD
1:00pm Guided Battlefield Tour
Outlander at Kings Mountain Program
1:30pm Weapon Demonstration
2:00pm Southern Campaign Talk
Children’s Book Reading: Blue’s March: An Overmountain Men Tale, With Katie Hatton
2:30pm Weapons Demonstration
3:00pm History Row closes
3: 30pm Weapons Demonstration
4:00pm Living History Encampment Closes
5:00pm Park Closes

Battle Anniversary Commemoration October 7, 2025

Wednesday Event Schedule
9:00am Park Opens
Guided hike with the Carolina Thread Trail
11:00 am Wreath Laying Ceremony
12:00pm Southern Campaign Talk
2:00pm Southern Campaign Talk
3:00pm Overmountain Victory Trail Association Annual Commemorative March and Program
5:00pm Park Closes