Fort Festival This Weekend

    Since 1978, cavalry troops and infantry units have converged on the grounds of Fort Sisseton for the state park’s Historical Festival.
    The annual three-day event set for this Friday through Sunday draws thousands of visitors and hundreds of camping units.  Activities start Friday with shooting demonstrations beginning at 1 p.m. and wrap up late at night with a movie under the Big Tent. Friday evening, visitors can enjoy the chuckwagon plate feed fundraiser, the proceeds of which go to support Fort activities. (Call (605) 910-4465 to check ticket availability). 
    Events Saturday start at 9 a.m. with the flag raising ceremony at 9:15. Sunday’s activities start at 8 a.m. and wrap up around 4 p.m. The festival covers the whole gamut of frontier life and settlement. It includes fiddle music, historic figures, an art and craft show, melodrama stage show, songs and music from the Civil War, period dance instruction classes, and a military costume ball. This year there are many new and returning speakers, including Teddy Roosevelt. Plus, new food vendors will offer tasty options. 
    The festival also has other new events planned for this year. The Buckhorn Rodeo Association will be bringing a Mounted Shooting Competition to the Festival. Visitors will thrill at this competitive equestrian sport involving the riding of a horse to negotiate a shooting pattern. This event will take place on Sunday at 1 pm in the arena. Buckhorn will also hold their Kids Stick Horse Barrel Race Rodeo again. This will be located by the North Barracks in the parade ground Saturday at 3 p.m. No need to sign up.
    Did you know that South Dakota had cricket teams in the 1880s and 90s? On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the baseball field, visitors can learn how cricket is played and be part of an informal game or two. Festival-goers can also hunt for “Annie,” a dummy that will be hidden around the park throughout the weekend. You can purchase beads to put around her neck and enter for the chance to win amazing prizes.
    Britton’s Community Theatre will once again provide the melodrama show.  This year’s production is, “A Penny Saved or The Widow Rootstock Fully Loded.” In this lively melodrama, villain Fourberie Blackguard demands repayment from Widow Rootstock, who’s unable to comply. Her resourceful daughters, led by clever Shirley, outwit Blackguard’s schemes. Meanwhile, Deputy Dewey Dauntley finds himself in unexpected rescues, leaving audiences wondering who will ultimately save the day.         All performances will take place in the South Barracks at Fort Sisseton. Showtimes: Friday at 8:30 p.m., Saturday at 12:30, 2:30 and 5:30 and Sunday at 11:30 and 2:30.  Admission costs support the Britton Community Theatre and are $3 per person, four years old and younger free.  Concessions are also available prior to the performances, so you can treat yourself and have a little bit of popcorn to throw at that dastardly villain as well!
    For a full schedule of weekend events see https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FestivalSchedule2024.pdf