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

Park at the Amphitheater, near Auto Tour Stop # 6

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 October 9–11

Friday, October 9 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM
Program Title: Valor and Sacrifice: The 1st Minnesota on July 2
Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson
Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue
Description: On July 2, 1863, the 1st Minnesota charged into overwhelming Confederate forces to close a dangerous gap on Cemetery Ridge. Outnumbered and facing near‑certain loss, the regiment’s sacrifice bought vital time for the Union line to hold. This program explores the crisis that sparked the order, and why their action remains one of Gettysburg’s defining moments of courage.

Saturday, October 10 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM
Program Title: Stories in Bronze: The Monuments of Cemetery Ridge
Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn
Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 12, The Pennsylvania Memorial
Ending Location: Auto Tour Stop 15, The Highwater Mark
Description: Walk Cemetery Ridge and discover how veterans transformed the battlefield into a landscape of memory. Through the monuments and memorials they created, veterans sought to honor sacrifice, preserve their achievements, and define how future generations would remember Gettysburg. Yet their recollections did not always agree. Join Ranger Christopher Gwinn to explore the stories, disputes, and competing memories preserved in bronze and stone.

Saturday, October 10 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM
Program Title: Military Intelligence and the Gettysburg Campaign
Presenter: Ranger John Nicholas
Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue
Description: The Gettysburg Campaign was shaped not only by what happened on the battlefield, but also by the information commanders possessed—or failed to possess. Explore the often-overlooked world of Civil War military intelligence and discover how the gathering, communication, and interpretation of information influenced the campaign.

Sunday, October 11 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM
Program Title: The Boys from Rockville: The 14th Connecticut in the defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 3, 1863
Presenter: Ranger Karlton Smith
Starting Location: National Cemetery Parking Lot
Ending Location: The Angle, Auto Tour Stop 15
Description: Follow the officers and men of the 14th CT who, despite their small numbers, not only defended the stone wall along Cemetery Ridge, but managed to capture over 100 prisoners and five battle flags, earning Sgt. Maj. William B. Hincks, Corp. Christopher Flynn, and Private E. W. Bacon, medals of honor. Learn the stories of some of the boys from Rockville and across the state of Connecticut who served in the 14th.

Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule October 23–25

Friday, October 23 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM
Program Title: In Granite & Bronze: Early Monument Dedications in the East
Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch
Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue
Description: For the first two years of the war, 1861 to 1863, battles raged at places such as Fort Sumter, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. In their wake, survivors of those engagements wished to remember those they lost and the glory they gained on those fields. Discover the story behind some of the earliest monuments placed on these battlefields in this program.

Saturday, October 24 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM
Program Title: “When duty called we came”: Dole’s Brigade on July 1
Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson
Starting Location: Barlow’s Knoll
Ending Location: Barlow’s Knoll
Description: On July 1, 1863, Brig. Gen. George Doles’ brigade—nearly 1,300 strong—swept toward Barlow’s Knoll during the opening phase of the Battle of Gettysburg. In this program, visitors will explore how Doles’ Georgians executed one of the most complex tactical maneuvers of the day, a coordinated attack that helped collapse the Union right flank north of town.

Saturday, October 24 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM
Program Title: Life and Death at Camp Letterman
Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn
Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue
Description: Between July 20 and November 19, 1863, over four thousand wounded Union and Confederate soldiers were treated at Gettysburg’s Camp Letterman, the largest field hospital established following the Battle of Gettysburg. Discover what life was like for the patients and medical staff, who suffered, toiled, and sacrificed at this now vanished location.

Sunday, October 25 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM
Program Title: “Rally, boys and go over that fence!” – The 11th Mississippi in Pettigrew’s Charge
Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch
Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 4, North Carolina Memorial
Ending Location: Hancock Avenue, Brian Farm
Description: Baxter McFarland, a veteran of the 11th Mississippi, wrote several articles on his unit’s history during the post war era. Even just several decades removed, he was concerned the 11th’s “heroic conduct nor its appalling losses have received the public recognition which long ago should have been recorded.” Follow the story of the 11th on July 3, 1863, in this compelling program.

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.

Last updated: September 3, 2026

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