Since 1978, the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival has brought the sights, sounds, and stories of the frontier era to life on the scenic grounds of Fort Sisseton State Park. This year’s event, set for Friday through Sunday, June 6–8, promises another memorable experience with a full slate of historical demonstrations, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.
Festivities kick off a day early on Thursday evening with the Fort Sisseton Variety Show at 7:30 p.m. under the big tent, followed by a movie showing and a lantern-lit ghost tour of the Fort.
Friday’s programming begins at 1 p.m. with a series of black powder shooting events at the range. Evening highlights include the ever-popular Chuckwagon Plate Fundraiser at 6:30 p.m., a melodrama performance by Britton’s Community Theatre at 8:30 p.m., and a family-friendly movie under the tent.
Saturday opens at 9 a.m. with shooting competitions, followed by the 9:15 a.m. flag-raising ceremony and artillery and cavalry demonstrations. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy frontier-era exhibits, blacksmith and carpenter demos, wagon rides, a scavenger hunt, and hands-on history tents. New this year is an exhibition barrel racing event at 10 a.m. in the Rodeo Arena, followed by Pee Wee and Open Class barrel racing, sponsored by the Buckhorn Rodeo Association.
Entertainment includes live music from South Dakota Fiddlers, period dance instruction, a pie judging contest, and multiple showings of the melodrama, “A Widow’s Might” or “What Happened to Henry” Saturday closes with a grand march, military ball, and a concert by the Monday Morning Regrets band out of Watertown.
Sunday’s events begin with an 1800s church service, followed by more shooting competitions, period demonstrations, falconry education, and the Fort’s Kids Pie Baking Contest. Visitors can also participate in the popular “Annie, Annie Where Are You?” scavenger-style fundraiser throughout the weekend.
The festival concludes Sunday afternoon with final performances, infantry drills, and living history programs.
Admission to the park is $5, and melodrama tickets are $3 per person. Camping is available throughout the weekend. For a complete schedule of events, visit https://gfp.sd.gov/historical-festival/or www.marshallcountyjournal.com.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 5
- 7:30 P.M. – Fort Sisseton Variety Show, Coteau Tent
A mix of music, comedy, magic, and more. Interested in performing? Call Ali at 605-910-4465. - 9:30 P.M. – Movie Under the Big Tent, Coteau Tent
Family-friendly film featuring a treasure map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence (starring Nicolas Cage). - 9:45 P.M. – Lantern Tour, North Barracks
Learn Fort Sisseton history and hear ghost stories by lantern light.
Friday, June 6
- 10 A.M.–6 P.M. – Visitor Center Open, North Barracks
Shooting Range Competitions:
- 1:00 P.M. – Gong Shoot (Black Powder)
- 2:00 P.M. – FAR Shot Shoot
- 3:00 P.M. – JL Challenge Shoot
- 4:00 P.M. – Partner Shoot
Evening Events:
- 6:30 P.M. – Chuckwagon Plate Fundraiser, Living History Area (Tickets required; call Fort’s office)
- 8:30 P.M. – Melodrama, South Barracks ($3/person, ages 5+; supports Britton Community Theater)
- 9:30 P.M. – Movie Under the Big Tent, Coteau Tent
See what happens when the museum closes and the exhibits come alive (starring Ben Stiller).
Saturday, June 7
Morning:
- 9:00 A.M. – Feather Shoot & Turtle Shoot, Shooting Range
- 9:15 A.M. – Flag Raising Ceremony, Parade Ground
- 9:30 A.M. – Artillery Demonstration, Parade Ground
- 10:00 A.M.:
- Cavalry Demonstration, Parade Ground
- Dutch Oven Demo, Living History Area
- Paper Shoot, Shooting Range
- “Forts of the Dakota Territory” Talk, Jeff Barnes, South Barracks
- “Daughters of Mars” (Part 1: Officer’s Wives), Kimberlee Berezuk, Coteau Tent
- Exhibition Barrel Racing, Rodeo Arena (10–11:30 A.M.)
- Kid’s Scavenger Hunt, Military Period Encampment (10 A.M.–12 P.M.)
- 10 A.M.–5 P.M. – Hands-on History Tent:
- “Measuring South Dakota”
- Sluice (Gold panning – $1/scoop)
- Coloring Contest
- Victorian Board Games
- Travel the Wadsworth Trail (Can you survive the journey?)
- 10 A.M.–6 P.M.:
- Rubber Duckie Scavenger Hunt
- “Annie, Annie Where Are You?” Fundraiser
- Military Period Encampment
- Gift Shop & Museum
- Historic Building Tours
- Blacksmith & Carpenter Demos
- Cowboyography
- Chuckwagons
- Wagon Rides (Barn east end)
- Arts & Crafts Booths (North of berm)
Late Morning:
- 10:30 A.M. – Laundress Demo, Military Encampment
- 11:00 A.M.:
- Chuckwagon History, Living History Area
- Jug Shoot, Shooting Range
- “Medicine Wheel” Talk, Starr Chief Eagle, Coteau Tent
- “Nailed It!” Contest, Hands-on History Tent
- 11 A.M.–Noon – 1800s Civil War Surgeon’s Demo, Post Hospital
- 11:15 A.M. – Saber & Watermelon Demo, Parade Ground
- 11:30 A.M. – Period Dance Instruction, South Barracks
Afternoon:
- 12:00 P.M.:
- Chuckwagon Cooking Demo
- Timed Team Shoot, Shooting Range
- Gypsy Talk, North Barracks
- “Three Days in Dakota,” Russ Swanson, Coteau Tent
- 12:00–12:30 P.M. – Pee Wee Barrel Racing, Rodeo Arena
- 12:30 P.M.:
- Melodrama, South Barracks
- Open Class Barrel Racing, Rodeo Arena
- 1:00 P.M.:
- Side Saddle Demo, Parade Ground
- Dutch Oven Demo
- Shotgun Shoot
- SD Fiddlers Concert, Coteau Tent
- 1:00–2:00 P.M. – Stick Horse Barrel Racing ($1), Parade Ground
- 1:00–5:00 P.M. – Hands-on History Tent continues
- 2:00 P.M.:
- Infantry Drill, Parade Ground
- Chuckwagon History
- Pie Judging, Military Encampment
- “Revolutions” Trivia Competition, Hands-on Tent
- Gypsy Talk, North Barracks
- 1860s Baseball Game, Rendezvous Area
- 2:30 P.M. – Melodrama, South Barracks
- 3:00 P.M.:
- Hoop Dance by Starr Chief Eagle, Coteau Tent
- Gatling Gun/Cannon Demo, Shooting Range
- Chuckwagon Cooking Demo
- 4:00 P.M.:
- Period Dance Instruction, South Barracks
- Firearms Demo, Shooting Range
- Industrial Revolution Charades, Hands-on Tent
- 4:30 P.M. – Laundress Demo, Military Encampment
- 5:00 P.M.:
- Hawk & Knife Throw ($2 – BYO item)
- MN Jack Sparrow Pirate History Talk, Coteau Tent
- 5:30 P.M. – Melodrama, South Barracks
- 6:00 P.M. – “History of Fur Trade,” Dave Huebner, Coteau Tent
- 6:30 P.M. – Flag Lowering Ceremony, Parade Grounds
- 8:00 P.M.:
- Grand March, Parade Grounds
- Military Ball, South Barracks (Free & open to the public)
- 8:30 P.M. – Monday Morning Regrets Band Concert, Watertown, SD
Sunday, June 8
Morning:
- 8:00 A.M. – 1800s Church Service, Coteau Tent
- 9:15 A.M. – Flag Raising Ceremony, Parade Ground
- 10:00 A.M.:
- Best Grouping Shoot, Shooting Range
- Formal Ladies Tea, Military Encampment
- “Daughters of Mars” (Part 2: Enlisted Wives), Kimberlee Berezuk, Coteau Tent
- Kid’s Pie Baking Contest, Living History Area (Pre-registration recommended)
- 10 A.M.–4 P.M.:
- Rubber Duckie Hunt
- Military Encampment
- Gift Shop & Museum
- Historic Building Tours
- Blacksmith & Carpenter Demos
- Cowboyography
- Chuckwagons
- Wagon Rides
- Arts & Crafts Booths
- Falcon & Raptor Education, Adjutant Building
- Sluice ($1)
- “Annie, Annie Where Are You?” Fundraiser
- Coloring Contest
- Victorian Board Games
- Wadsworth Trail Activity
- 10:30 A.M. – Best Grouping Shoot (Period shirt/hat required; BYO rifle)
- 11:00 A.M.:
- Candy Shoot, Shooting Range
- F.A.R.E. Falconry Program, Tanya McCarlson, Coteau Tent
- “Is it a Nail?” Contest, Hands-on Tent
- 11 A.M.–Noon – 1800s Civil War Surgeon’s Demo, Post Hospital
- 11:30 A.M. – Melodrama, South Barracks
Afternoon:
- 12:00 P.M.:
- Poker Shoot, Shooting Range
- Pie Sampling & Awards, Living History Area
- “Forts of Dakota Territory” Talk, Jeff Barnes, South Barracks
- Bob Ross Painting Workshop, Library/Schoolhouse
- 12:00–1:00 P.M. – Period Writing & Post Bookkeeping, Adjutant’s Building
- 12:00–4:00 P.M. – Craft Time, Hands-on Tent
- 12:30 P.M.:
- Gypsy Fortune Telling, Living History Area
- Laundress Demo, Military Encampment
- 1:00 P.M.:
- Cavalry Demo, Parade Ground
- Pistol Shoot, Shooting Range
- Lakota Hoop Dance, Dallas Chief Eagle, Coteau Tent
- 2:00 P.M.:
- Gatling Gun/Cannon Demo
- “Three Days in Dakota,” Russ Swanson, Coteau Tent
- “American Civil War” Trivia Competition, Hands-on Tent
- 2:30 P.M. – Melodrama, South Barracks
- 3:00 P.M.:
- Infantry Drill, Parade Ground
- “History of Fur Traders,” Dave Huebner, Coteau Tent
