By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Many consider Memorial Day to be the official kickoff to summer. Fort Larned National Historic Site is ready to celebrate its heritage and the summer with a variety of activities over the upcoming three-day weekend. Park Ranger Celeste Dixon reminds the public that all the events are free.
"It's our first living history of the summer season," she said. "It basically kicks off our summer season. We're going to have several reenactment groups coming in. We'll have plenty of volunteers dressed out in the buildings. We bill it as the biggest living-history event in Western Kansas."
Festivities begin on Saturday, May 27, at 10 a.m. with a blacksmith demonstration. A crew from Fort Riley will be on hand throughout the weekend for the ordnance demonstration. And back on Saturday only is an old-time baseball game. Some 10 years ago, 19th-century reenactors put on a game. This year's game will be a little different.
"We haven't done this in years," said Dixon. "We're not going to have that baseball team, the reenactors. We're just going to try to put together a baseball game with the other volunteers that are here, and hopefully get the visitors to join in on the game."
Programming will close on Memorial Day with a "To Live and Die at Fort Larned: Medicine on the Plains" program at 3 p.m., and a lowering of the flag at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 27
10:00AM – Blacksmith Demonstration
11:00AM – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms, Howitzer and Ordnance Rifle
1:00PM – Fort Larned Fashion
2:00PM – Firing Demonstration with Small Arms, Howitzer and Ordnance Rifle
3:00PM – Play Ball! 19th Century baseball game program where you are welcome to join in the fun!
4:30PM – Retreat Ceremony (lowering of the flag)
Sunday, May 28
10:00AM – Blacksmith Demonstration
11:00AM - Firing Demonstration with Small Arms, Howitzer and Ordnance Rifle
1:00PM – Cemetery Program
2:00PM - Firing Demonstration with Small Arms, Howitzer and Ordnance Rifle
3:00PM – Kansas Music History – Speaker: Derrick Doty, Flint Hills Fiddler
4:30PM – Retreat Ceremony (lowering of the flag)
Monday, May 29
10:00AM – Blacksmith Demonstration
11:00AM - Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and Howitzer
1:00PM – Military Discipline at Fort Larned
2:00PM - Firing Demonstration with Small Arms and Howitzer
3:00PM – To Live and Die at Fort Larned: Medicine on the Plains
4:30PM – Retreat Ceremony (lowering of the flag)
NOTE: programs are scheduled to change or cancel due to weather or staffing. Call (620) 285-6911 to ensure the programming is still on as scheduled.