Calendar of Events

Living history volunteers act out a skit during a Candlelight Tour
Living history volunteers addressing visitors.

NPS


Crackling Embers

The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making along with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available.

Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 10, 2024 at
10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, April 13 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


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Sensory Friendly Sundays

For those visitors who enjoy a more relaxed experience, these hours allow for a quieter, more inclusive museum visit. Display lighting will be dimmed, and a break space and touch table are included.
Park film unavailable during these hours.

Sunday, March 2, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, March 9, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, April 6, 2025 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

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A group of people dressed as Union Civil War soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in line holding rifles extended in front of them with smoke emerging from muzzles of weapons
Park volunteers demonstrating weapons from the Civil War in New Mexico.

NPS Photo

Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862

Learn of the star fort's construction, the Battle of Glorieta Pass and more with this 60-minute program. Seating provided.

Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 10:00 am
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 10:00 am


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Your National Junior Ranger Day

Play games, make crafts, earn a badge, interact with rangers, and enjoy your park during this 90-minute program!

Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


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Two Navajo dancers wearing colorful costumes twirl around while a man beats a drum in background.
Dineh Tah' dancers performing at Fort Union.

NPS Photo

Dineh Tah' Cultural Program

Experience the presentation "William T. Sherman: War Maker/Peacemaker" by Director Shawn Price and traditional and semi-contemporary Navajo dancers. Photography/videography may be limited during performances of this special program.

Date and time to be determined for 2025.








Fort Union Day

This annual event will feature two special 90-minute programs of historic weapons demonstrations, living history and encampment!

Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

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71st Anniversary of Fort Union National Monument

Celebrate with us with a 60-minute program with a black powder weapon demonstration.

Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, June 22, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

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Fort Fashions & Pastimes

Discover 1800s clothing styles and leisure activities and how they related to economics and social structure. 45-minute program.

Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

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A dark sky full of stars with the Milky Way at one side and adobe walls silhouetted in front of sky.
The night sky over Fort Union.

Harun Mehmedinovic

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. Park gates will re-open for this evening program at 7:30 pm August 8-10 and 22-24, 2025 and at 6:30 pm on September 26-28, 2025.

Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 8:00 pm

Friday, August 22, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 8:00 pm

Friday, September 26, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm

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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. 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. Park gates will re-open for this evening program at 7:00 pm on September 27-29, 2024, at 7:30 pm on August 8-10, 2025 and at 6:30 pm on September 26-28, 2025. All grounds and gates will close at 10:30 pm.)

Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 8:45 pm


Friday, August 22, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 8:45 pm


Friday, September 26, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 7:45 pm

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First Fort & Arsenal Tours

Visit where Fort Union began. These 2-hour programs include living history, historic 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 16, 2025 at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm
 
Two women sitting at a table with an oil lamp, both wearing long 19th centur dresses
Volunteer actresses wearing 19th-century garb for the annual Candlelight Tour.

NPS Photo

"A Play of Candlelight" Annual Program

Dressed in historic costumes, staff will guide visitors on a lantern-lit tour to "meet"some of the personalities who helped weave the fabric of Fort Union. Reservations required by calling the visitor center beginning August 1. Each program lasts about 45 minutes and is limited to 22 reservation-holders. Park gates open for this event at 6:00 pm.

Saturday, September 6, 2025. Tours at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm










Of Smoke & Powder

Join us for an hour-long program on cannons, projectiles, muskets and rifles along with black powder firing demonstrations.

Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


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A Ghost Story

Good stories don't have to be true! Join rangers to explore a peculiar tale of Fort Union around a campfire followed by a lantern tour. 90-minutes. Gates will open at 6:45 pm for tour participants.

Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 7:00 pm

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Ruins Walk

A 60- to 90-minute, 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 required to be worn.)

Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

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Thanksgiving Proclamation

This 45-minute program features an 1863 order from President Lincoln officially marking our famous national holiday.

Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Friday, November 28, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


 
Drawing of Civil War soldiers gathered around Santa Claus, who is seated on a sleigh. Two young boys sit behind Santa Claus and a U.S. flag flies above Santa.
Civil War soldiers visiting with Santa Claus in camp.

Harpers Weekly, January 3, 1863.

Farolitos and Falling Mercury

Find out how Christmas was celebrated by those at Fort Union and the local area. Includes the reading of a short story. 45-minutes.

Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Monday, December 23, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Monday, December 22, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Thursday, December 24, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Friday, December 26, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm


For additional information and updates on these events, please call 505-425-8025, ext. 1.

PLEASE NOTE: All events are subject to cancellation or alteration depending on weather, staffing, or unforseen circumstances.

Last updated: October 26, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 127
Watrous, NM 87753

Phone:

505-425-8025 x1

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