Fort Ticonderoga, surrounded by magnificent autumn backdrops of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains will present the Annual Heritage, Harvest, & Horse Festival on October 3, 2020. The full day of autumn fun will be set in the midst of the King’s Garden heirloom apple trees and the beautiful landscape of the mountains and Lake Champlain.
Guests are invited to discover the historical importance of horses and other working animals during exciting demonstrations, meet our friendly oxen duo, stroll through Fort Ticonderoga’s farmers’ market featuring local food, beverages, and crafts, participate in family fun activities, and tackle the six-acre Heroic Corn Maze. This fall favorite event, combined with daily Fort Ticonderoga programs, makes for a great annual family tradition.
“Each year the festival gives visitors the opportunity to take in the beauty of the autumn colors, connect with history, and participate in the many activities we have on site for all ages,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga president and CEO. “There’s so much to explore that it makes for a nice weekend family outing or getaway.”
Whether you are looking to experience a horse-drawn wagon ride, indulge in local homemade delights, or pick apples by the bag from our heritage apple orchard, there is something for everyone and all ages when it comes to our Annual Fall Festival!
Local Food & Harvest Market
Enjoy tasty treats from America’s Fort Café, “localvore” food including a food truck, local spirits, the Annual Vegetable, Seed, & Plant Sale, and a harvest market featuring locally grown and made products.
Heritage Animals & Demonstrations
Say hello to our friendly dynamic oxen duo—Mick and Mack to watch the heavy hauling power of working oxen, and follow the cry of the foxhunting Green Mountain Hounds. See how militia horses provided mobility to get soldiers wherever duty called. Discover the mounted volunteers who equipped themselves as cavalry to defend this new nation.
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
Take a ride around the beautiful grounds of the King’s Garden in Country Dreams Farm’s wagon, pulled by a great team of beautiful draft horses.
Heroic Corn Maze: A Corn Maze Adventure!
The day will not be complete without a visit to Fort Ticonderoga’s highly acclaimed Heroic Corn Maze: A Corn Maze Adventure where visitors explore the six-acre corn maze, with a new design for the 2020 season. Guests are able to find their way through the maze by selecting the correct answers to clues connected to Fort Ticonderoga’s history.
Admission to the Heritage, Harvest & Horse Festival is included with a Fort Ticonderoga general admission ticket. Fort Ticonderoga is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through October 11, 2020 (last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m.). General admission capacity is capped at 450 visitors per day and advance online ticketing is encouraged. Tickets, as available, can be purchased at the Admissions Booth upon arrival with a credit card.
Numerous measures are in place to ensure staff and visitor safety and reflect guidance from appropriate government agencies and health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including required physical distancing, new signage to manage visitor flow and expectations, and required face coverings when physical distancing is not possible.