Since 1978, the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival has brought the sights, sounds and stories of the frontier era to life on the grounds of Fort Sisseton State Park. This year’s festival, scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, June 4-7, will feature a full lineup of living history demonstrations, entertainment, competitions and family activities.
Festivities begin Thursday evening with the Fort Sisseton Variety Show at 7:30 p.m. under the Coteau Tent, showcasing local talent, followed by a lantern tour exploring the history and ghost stories of the fort.
Friday’s activities include black powder shooting competitions, the annual Chuckwagon Plate Fundraiser and performances of the Britton Community Theatre melodrama. New this year is a Book Bingo fundraiser, with proceeds supporting preservation projects at the fort.
Saturday features many of the festival’s signature events, including artillery and cavalry demonstrations, military encampments, blacksmith and carpenter demonstrations, wagon rides, arts and crafts vendors, and hands-on history activities. Barrel racing returns to the rodeo arena with exhibition, pee wee and open class events. Visitors can also enjoy the Rubber Duckie Scavenger Hunt, the popular “Annie, Annie Where Are You?” fundraiser, Dutch oven demonstrations, South Dakota Fiddlers, period dance instruction and performances by Curtis and Loretta.
Fun entertainment includes Doc Terra’s Medicine Show, featuring discussions on ethnobotany and frontier remedies, as well as educational workshops led by Dallas and Starr Chief Eagle. Saturday evening concludes with the Military Ball and a Comedy Night fundraiser featuring regional comedians Nathan Hults, Jacob Womack and Lee Bruns.
Sunday begins with an 1800s-style church service and continues with shooting competitions, living history demonstrations, wagon rides, falcon and raptor education programs, the Rubber Duckie Scavenger Hunt, and additional performances by Doc Terra, Curtis and Loretta, and Dallas and Starr Chief Eagle. The festival concludes Sunday afternoon with cavalry and infantry demonstrations and the final melodrama performance.
Food vendors will be on site throughout the weekend, offering authentic Mexican and Greek cuisine, barbecue, fried mini doughnuts, coffee and more.
Dry camping is available on the festival grounds for $25 per unit per night, which includes daily admission. Reservations may be made through campsd.com or by calling 1-800-710-2267. Campsites will be assigned upon arrival.
Admission to the park is $5, and melodrama tickets are $3 per person.
FORT SISSETON HISTORICAL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
7:30 p.m. — Fort Sisseton Variety Show, Coteau Tent. Music, comedy, magic and more. Interested performers may contact Ali at 605-910-4465.
9:30 p.m. — Lantern Tour, North Barracks. History and ghost stories of Fort Sisseton.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Visitor Center Open, North Barracks.
1 p.m. — Gong Shoot, Shooting Range.
2 p.m. — FAR Shot Shoot, Shooting Range.
3 p.m. — JL Challenge Shoot, Shooting Range.
4 p.m. — Partner Shoot, Shooting Range.
6:30 p.m. — Chuckwagon Plate Fundraiser, Living History Area. Advance tickets required.
8 p.m. — Melodrama, South Barracks. $3, ages 5 and up.
9 p.m. — Book Bingo Fundraiser. Books and book-themed prizes. Proceeds benefit Fort preservation.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
ALL DAY (10 a.m.-6 p.m. unless noted): Museum and Gift Shop, Historic Building Tours, Military Encampment, Blacksmith and Carpenter Demonstrations, Cowboyography, Chuckwagons, Wagon Rides, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Rubber Duck Scavenger Hunt, "Annie, Annie Where Are You?" fundraiser, Hands-on History Tent activities, Sluice Mining, Victorian Games, Wadsworth Trail challenge.
9 a.m. — Feather Shoot and Turtle Shoot.
9:15 a.m. — Flag Raising.
9:30 a.m. — Artillery Demonstration.
10 a.m. — Cavalry Demo; Dutch Oven Demo; Paper Shoot; F.A.R.E.; Exhibition Barrel Racing (to 11:30 a.m.); Kids Scavenger Hunt (to noon).
10:30 a.m. — Laundress Demonstration.
11 a.m. — History of the Chuckwagon; Jug Shoot; Doc Terra Medicine Show; Civil War Surgeon Demonstration (to noon).
11:15 a.m. — Saber and Watermelon Demonstration.
11:30 a.m. — Period Dance Instruction.
Noon — Chuckwagon Cooking; Timed Team Shoot; Lakota Necklace Workshop with Dallas and Starr Chief Eagle; Pee Wee Barrel Racing (to 12:30 p.m.).
12:30 p.m. — Melodrama; Open Class Barrel Racing.
1 p.m. — Side Saddle Demonstration; Dutch Oven Demo; Shotgun Shoot; South Dakota Fiddlers; Stick Horse Barrel Racing; Post Bookkeeping Demonstration; Hands-on History Tent (to 5 p.m.).
1:30 p.m. — Historian Russ Swanson presentation, Library/Schoolhouse.
2 p.m. — Infantry Drill; History of the Chuckwagon; Pie Judging.
2:30 p.m. — Melodrama.
3 p.m. — Gatling Gun/Cannon Demonstration; Chuckwagon Cooking; Hoop Making Workshop with Dallas and Starr Chief Eagle.
4 p.m. — Period Dance Instruction; Firearms Demonstration; Curtis and Loretta performance.
4:30 p.m. — Laundress Demonstration.
5 p.m. — Hawk and Knife Throw ($2); MN Jack Sparrow.
5:30 p.m. — Melodrama.
6 p.m. — Plant Bingo Fundraiser.
6:30 p.m. — Flag Lowering Ceremony.
8 p.m. — Grand March; Military Ball (free and open to the public).
8:30 p.m. — Comedy Night featuring Nathan Hults, Jacob Womack and Lee Bruns. Proceeds benefit Fort preservation.
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
ALL DAY (10 a.m.-4 p.m.): Museum and Gift Shop, Historic Building Tours, Military Encampment, Blacksmith and Carpenter Demonstrations, Cowboyography, Chuckwagons, Wagon Rides, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Falcon and Raptor Education, Rubber Duck Scavenger Hunt, "Annie, Annie Where Are You?" fundraiser, Hands-on History Tent activities.
9 a.m. — 1860s Church Service.
9:15 a.m. — Flag Raising.
10 a.m. — Best Grouping Shoot; Russ Swanson presentation, Library/Schoolhouse.
10:30 a.m. — Best Grouping Shoot competition.
11 a.m. — Candy Shoot; Curtis and Loretta performance; Civil War Surgeon Demonstration (to noon).
11:30 a.m. — Melodrama.
Noon — Poker Shoot; Pie Contest Awards; Doc Terra Medicine Show; Bob Ross Painting Workshop.
Noon-1 p.m. — Post Bookkeeping Demonstration.
Noon-4 p.m. — Craft Time, Hands-on History Tent.
12:30 p.m. — Laundress Demonstration.
1 p.m. — Cavalry Demonstration; Pistol Shoot; Hoop Dance Performance with Dallas and Starr Chief Eagle.
2 p.m. — Gatling Gun/Cannon Demonstration; MN Jack Sparrow.
2:30 p.m. — Melodrama.
3 p.m. — Infantry Drill; F.A.R.E.
This version cuts the schedule by roughly 40-50% while keeping every event and major detail.
