NEWSLETTER
One of the top regional festivals for a weekend family outing or getaway!
Ticonderoga, NY (September 21, 2026) -- Fort Ticonderoga, surrounded by magnificent autumn backdrops of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, will present the Annual Heritage, Harvest, & Horse Festival on Saturday, October 3, 2026. A full day of autumn fun will be set amidst the fall flowers of the King’s Garden, a heritage apple orchard, and the beautiful landscape along Lake Champlain.
Spend the day and discover the important role horses and other working animals played in Fort Ticonderoga’s history during exciting demonstrations. Meet Fort Ticonderoga’s friendly oxen duos, stroll through the farmers’ market featuring local food, beverages, and crafts, and conquer the six-acre Heroic Corn Maze featuring an entirely new design for 2026, built around six stories of heroism and epic journeys from 1775 and 1776, from covert scouting missions to Montreal to the legendary Noble Train of Artillery to Boston. The Heroic Corn Maze was recently named a 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice for Best Corn Maze in America.
“Each year, the Heritage, Harvest, & Horse Festival gives visitors the opportunity to take in the beauty of the autumn colors, sample delicious local food and beverages, connect with history, and participate in the many activities we have on site for all ages and interests,” said Beth L. Hill, Fort Ticonderoga president & CEO.
This fall-favorite event, combined with all the daily Fort Ticonderoga programs, makes for a great annual family tradition. Whether you are looking to experience a horse-drawn wagon ride, indulge in local homemade delights, participate in hands-on programs, or build family memories of historic proportions, there is something for everyone and all ages when it comes to our annual Heritage, Harvest & Horse Fall Festival!
Fort Ticonderoga’s Heritage Harvest & Horse Festival is included with daily admission and tickets are buy one day get the next day free. Be sure to experience all that Fort Ticonderoga has to offer including more than 10 daily tours, weapons demonstrations, the beautiful King’s Garden, historic trades, boat tours on Lake Champlain, museum exhibitions, the Carillon Battlefield hiking trail, and the Mount Defiance experience. To purchase tickets or learn more about this family fun fall event, visit www.fortticonderoga.org.
Festival featured activities include:
Local vendors with fresh vegetables, beverages, food trucks, handmade items, honey, & maple delights.
Heroic Corn Maze: A Corn Maze Adventure!
The revolutionary experience extends beyond the fort itself. Families can challenge one another in Fort Ticonderoga’s six-acre Heroic Corn Maze, recognized by USA TODAY 10Best, and open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., through October 25. This year’s maze celebrates six inspiring stories of Revolutionary heroism. Visitors can also explore the King’s Garden, take in sweeping autumn views from Mount Defiance, hike the Carillon Battlefield trails, and discover 2,000 acres of historic landscape at the height of fall color.
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides
Ride around the beautiful grounds of the King’s Garden in Vance Acres Farms’ wagon, pulled by a great team of draft horses.
Carillon Boat Cruises
Enhance your visit with a 75-minute narrated cruise aboard the Carillon tour boat. Explore what lies beneath Lake Champlain in some of the most archaeologically rich waters in North America while you are surrounded by breathtaking lake views, commanding mountains and the majestic fort. Reservations can be made in advance by visiting www.fortticonderoga.org. Tickets can be purchased day-of, as available, by visiting the guest services desk inside the Log House Welcome Center.
Fascine-A-Thon
Help build fascines, the bundles of sticks that American soldiers staked in place along the inside of the miles of intrenchments they dug in 1776. Work alongside oxen as they haul the brush to build these essential supplies for fortifications. Experience what it was like to prepare to defend Ticonderoga against British attack 250 years ago!
Flower Arranging
Create a beautiful arrangement of King’s Garden flowers and take home some of the beauty of this historic garden.
News from New York, the Continued Rides of Philadelphia Light Horse
As part of America’s 250th and Fort Ticonderoga’s REAL TIME REVOLUTION® approach to America’s 250th, discuss the many rides of horseman of the Philadelphia Light Horse to deliver news and money from the Continental Congress directly to Northern Continental Army at Ticonderoga.
Germain to our Story: The Block House
Tour the stabilized remains of the Block House and its parallel story to the 1908-1909 restoration of the Pell Pavilion. Discover the roots of this recreated fortification in the Germain Redoubt of 1758, through its service in 1776, and Howland Pell’s 1909 reconstruction. Explore this newly opened feature on our historic property.
“Volunteers from the Cavalry”
Discover the story of British cavalrymen who volunteered to serve with the British Army in Canada in 1776. Explore the motivations of these dragoons and horseman, who left cavalry service and pay in Ireland, to fight for King & Country in America.
Green Mountain Hounds
From its traditional colonial past to its 20th-century revival, see how the sport of fox hunting has evolved over time. Meet members of the Green Mountain Hounds as they demonstrate their contemporary version of this sport which unites horses and hounds together for an exciting pastime.
About Fort Ticonderoga: Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga is an internationally renowned historic site, museum, and center for learning. As a multi-day destination and the premier place to learn more about North America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages nearly 70,000 visitors each year on-site and millions through on-line programs and engagement. Presenting vibrant programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits, Fort Ticonderoga and is open for daily visitation May through October and special programs during Winter Quarters, November through April. Fort Ticonderoga is owned by The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, and is supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts. To view Fort Ticonderoga’s electronic press kit, click here.
© The Fort Ticonderoga Association. 2026 All Rights Reserved.
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