NPS 
NPS Photo All black powder firing demonstrations are dependent on specifically trained staff availability and local fire restrictions. Organized groups of more than 12 are recommended to contact the visitor center ahead of time for special program requests. All programs are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or limited staffing. Please check with staff directly or call the Visitor Center. Weather forecast information for the Fort Union National Monument area can be found at weather.gov using Watrous, NM or zip code 87753. --- JANUARY 2027 Crackling Embers – Experience a 45-minute program of historic tales with park staff. Seating available. Saturday, January 16, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, January 17, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Monday, January 18, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm FEBRUARY 2027
Second Fort Tour – Enjoy a guided tour that focuses on the Civil War era fieldwork and led by a costumed living history interpreter. Around 45-minutes. Saturday, February 13, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, February 14, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Monday, February 15, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
Harun Mehmedinovic MARCH 2027
Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862 – Learn of the 2nd fort’s construction, the Battle of Glorieta Pass and more. 60-minute program. Seating provided. Friday, March 26, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, March 27, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, March 28, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm APRIL 2027 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. 60 to 90 minutes. (Entrance gates will open for the program at 7:30 pm, and close again at 9:30 pm.) Saturday, April 3, 2027, at 7:45 pm Sunday, April 4, 2027, at 7:45 pm Fort Fashions – Discover 1800s clothing styles and their relation to economics and society. 45-minutes. Saturday, April 10, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, April 11, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Domestic Animals and the Santa Fe Trail – Join us for a 2-mile hiking program along and into this historic trail along with costumed living history interpreters and donkeys! Around 90 minutes. (Tour enters rough, unlevel terrain. Park provided reflective vest is required to be worn) Saturday, April 17, 2027, at 10:00 am Frontier Pastimes – Join us for programs on some of the leisure activities of the 1800s. 1 Hour. Saturday, April 24, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, April 25, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm MAY 2027 Firearms of a Frontier Army – Experience demonstrations and discussions of several types of historic weapons during this one-hour program. Saturday, May 29, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, May 30, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Monday, May 31, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
NPS Photo Dineh Tah’ Navajo Cultural Program – Experience a presentation by Director Shawn Price along with traditional and semi-contemporary Navajo dances. (Photography / videography may be limited during performances of this special program) Dates pending. Fort Union Days – An annual event featuring an all-day living history camp, costumed interpreters, and two special 60-minute programs on historic weapons! Friday, June 18, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, June 19, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, June 20, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm JULY 2027 AUGUST 2027 Your Junior Ranger Days – Play games, build a fort, make a craft and enjoy your park! 1 Hour. Saturday, August 21, 2027, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, August 22, 2027 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm 
NPS Photo SEPTEMBER
“A Play of Candlelight” Annual Program – Living history staff will guide visitors on a journey of Fort Union’s historic personalities, intrigues, and tales. (Each tour lasts about 45 minutes) Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm OCTOBER 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) Friday, October 2, 2026, at 6:30 pm Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6:30 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 6:30 pm 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. 60 to 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. All grounds and gates will close at 9:30 pm) Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7:15 pm Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:15 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 7:15 pm 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) Friday, October 9, 2026, at 6:00 pm Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:00 pm 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. 60 to 90 minutes. (Historic area trails closed at 4:00 pm. All grounds and gates will close at 9:30 pm) Friday, October 9, 2026, at 6:45 pm Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 6:45 pm Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:45 pm Of Smoke & Powder – 60-minute programs with cannons, small arms and firing demonstrations. Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 6:45 pm Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 6:45 pm A Ghost Story – Good stories don’t have to be true! Join staff for a peculiar Fort Union tale told around a campfire followed by a lantern tour. 90 minutes. Saturday, October 30, 2026, at 5:30 pm 
Harpers Weekly, January 3, 1863. Ruins Walk – A 60 to 90-minutes, 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 is required to be worn) Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Santa Fe Trail Stroll – This guided interpretive walk follows beside the historic trail to the park’s northern boundary and back covering about 2-miles. 90 minutes.(Tour enters rough, unlevel terrain. Park provided reflective vest is required to be worn) Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00 am Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 10:00 am ---PARK CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY – NOVEMBER 26, 2026--- Of Laundresses & Soldiers – Learn about a typical day for those stationed and working at Fort Union along with their uniforms and equipment. 1 Hour Friday, November 27, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm DECEMBER Crackling Embers – The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available. Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Farolitos and Falling Mercury – Find out how Christmas was celebrated by those at Fort Union and the local area. Craft your own farolito (luminaria) and enjoy the reading of a short story. 60-minutes. Monday, December 21, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Tuesday, December 22, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 23, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Thursday, December 24, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm ---PARK CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY – DECEMBER 25, 2026--- Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Sunday, December 27, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm |
Last updated: August 28, 2026