Campfire Programs at Gettysburg (U.S. National Park Service)

A park ranger at an amphitheater speaking with a slide show next to him. — Campfire programs
NPS Photo

Campfire Programs

Rangers present evening campfire talks on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War. Programs take place at the Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, near Auto Tour Stop #6.

Bench seating is available, visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs if preferred. Appropriate seasonal clothing and insect spray recommended. Both the amphitheater area and parking lot can be very dark, flashlights also recommended.

Schedule subject to change without notice.

Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule

Friday, September 26 – 7:00 PM
Twilight of the Blue & Gray: The Last Reunion of Surviving Civil War Veterans at Gettysburg - Ranger Christopher Gwinn
Eighty-five summers after musket fire echoed over Gettysburg, the final living veterans of the Civil War returned—not as foes, but as old men. In July 1938, over 1,800 Union and Confederate veterans gathered here one last time, their memories bridging the gap of war and time. Join Ranger Gwinn around the campfire as we explore the stories, symbolism, and legacy of this extraordinary reunion—where memory, reconciliation, and the twilight of a generation converged.

Saturday, September 27 – 7:00 PM
Beyond the Sobriquet: The Men of the Iron Brigade - Ranger Dan Welch
Move beyond the moniker of this famed Union brigade and meet the men who gave it life. Through personal stories and battlefield legacy, discover who filled the ranks of the Iron Brigade and how their service at Gettysburg helped define them.

Friday, October 24 – 6:30 PM
Damn the Torpedoes! Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay - Ranger Karlton Smith
Sail from Gettysburg to the Gulf coast and witness Admiral David Farragut’s daring 1864 assault on Mobile Bay. Through dramatic storytelling, this program explores Farragut’s leadership, the famous command —“Damn the torpedoes!”—and the naval courage that helped turn the tide of the Civil War.

Saturday, October 25 – 6:30 PM
Shadows of the Past: Legends, Lore, and the Truth Behind Gettysburg’s Haunting Tales
Ghost stories swirl like mist around Gettysburg’s fields—phantom regiments, haunted inns, and spectral horsemen roaming the night. But what if the truth is even more powerful than the myth?
Join National Park Service rangers as they unravel the origins of Gettysburg’s most popular ghost stories and battlefield legends—revealing what’s based in fact, what’s pure fiction, and why these tales persist. This isn’t a ghost tour— but in the end, you might find that the true stories of Gettysburg are just as haunting.

Pets are allowed on the battlefield, but are not allowed in the National Cemetery or inside buildings.

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, near Auto Tour Stop #6.

The park amphitheater is located near parking with outdoor bench seating.

It is our goal to work with park visitors to ensure everyone has a positive experience visiting Gettysburg. Please contact the park for information about specific programs or to request any accommodations you or a member of your party may need.

Campfire Programs at Gettysburg