Special Events and Programs

 

Concert goers at Saratoga National Historical Park.

NPS Photo

September

September Encampment

Saturday, September 19
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, September 20
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Stops 2 & 6

Revolutionary War soldiers return to Saratoga! On the 249th anniversary of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, Saratoga National Historical Park will host the return of troops on the original Revolutionary War battlegrounds.

At Benedict Arnold's headquarters (tour road stop 2), Continental soldiers from the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, and 15th Massachusetts Regiments will encamp near the same location those same troops would have occupied in 1777 to defend against the British invasion from Canada.

At Freeman's Farm (tour road stop 6), British soldiers of His Majesty's 24th and 62nd Regiments will be on hand to restore crown authority to the American colonies.

Men and women will be authentically dressed - soldiers will perform military exercises (including firing muskets) while followers and soldiers sew and cook provisions. The reenactors are here for you - be sure to ask them lots of questions!

Freeman’s Farm Walking Tour

Saturday, September 19
2 p.m.
Tour Stop 6

Join Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer as he gives a guided tour of Freeman's Farm, the place where most of the first battle of Saratoga was fought on September 19, 1777. The battle - one of the longest land battles of the eight-year-long war - was a terrible fight over farm fields and woods and ended up costing the lives of hundreds of men and boys, most of whom are still buried in unmarked graves near where they fell.Meet at the Freeman Farm parking lot (stop 6); the tour will last for about one hour.

Fall, Fields, and Families

Tuesday, September 22
10 am
Meet at the Visitor Center

Experience the first day of fall exploring a lesser-known area of the park. Attune to the changes the autumnal equinox brings. Walk through fields and forest as we observe plants, wildlife, and family farms.

We will meet in the Visitor Center parking lot and caravan from there. The ground is mostly flat but may be muddy in spots. May be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

History Caravan

Saturday, September 26
9:30 am
Visitor Center

Looking for a more in-depth, hands-on experience during your visit? Join a Park Volunteer for a caravan-style tour of the Battlefield! Tours will last 2.5-3 hours. Meet in the Visitor Center and follow along in your own vehicle for as long as you like. May be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

Stories in Stone: the "Tablets" of Saratoga Battlefield

Saturday, September 26
1 p.m.
Visitor Center

After the Battles of Saratoga ended, it took over 100 years before any historical signs marked places related to those battles. There were farms to run, families to raise, lives to continue. But in 1883, the Saratoga Monument Association's "Committee on Tablets" entered the scene. Committee chair, Ellen Hardin Walworth, had a clear purpose: set up a series of stone markers alongside public roads running through and between private properties that had been (and would be!) Saratoga Battlefield. What stories do they tell? Are they just battlefield history? What more might they say?

October

Fall Lecture Series
Agrippa Hull: A Revolutionary Life

Thursday, October 1, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center

Agrippa Hull was a free African American resident of Stockbridge, MA. He enlisted in the Continental Army in May 1777 and served for six years, first with General John Paterson of the Massachusetts Line and then with Tadeusz Kościuszko, the Polish military engineer. Declining Kościuszko’s offer to settle in Poland after the war, Hull returned to Stockbridge where he became a pillar of the community. Agrippa Hull’s story is remarkable for what he did during his lifetime and how much documentation remains from which we can extrapolate. Through letters, diary entries, land deeds, and even accounts in mercantile ledgers the story emerges of a member of the African American community in 18th century Berkshire County – a community whose stories can otherwise be difficult to trace.

Speaker Talya Leodari is the Curator at the Stockbridge Library Museum and Archives in Stockbridge, MA and has worked in the cultural heritage field for over twenty years. She holds an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Newcastle University in the UK. Her career has spanned many fields, but her focus throughout has been an interest in stories: whose stories get told and by whom, which stories are remembered and how. She is honored to be able to do this work at the Stockbridge Library.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

Battle of Bemus Heights Walking Tour

Wednesday, October 7
1 p.m.
Tour Stop 5

Join Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer as he gives a guided tour of the fields where the Battle of Bemus Heights - the second battle of Saratoga - was fought on October 7, 1777. The battle was one of the most decisive American victories of the Revolutionary War and put an end to the British scheme to capture Albany. Major new information has reshaped our understanding of Benedict Arnold's role in the battle, and discussing his heroism in the fight will be a highlight of the tour. No sign-up required; those interested should meet at "The Tide Turns" parking lot (stop 5); the tour will last for about one hour.

Fall Lecture Series
The Woes of Richard Montgomery Part Two: The Sad Retreat from Canada in 1776

Thursday, October 8, 2026
6:30 pm
Visitor Center

Join Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum for the conclusion of the sorrowful story of the Continental Army’s Invasion of Canada, launched in 1775. From August into December, American forces under the command of Brigadier General Richard Montgomery of Rhinebeck, NY, fought their way to the gates of Quebec City, where Montgomery famously died on New Year’s Eve. But the story doesn’t end there: what happened to the thousands of American troops still surrounding the Canadian Capital and garrisoned throughout the 14th Colony? Why does this campaign, which occupied a significant amount of attention during the first half of 2026, remain relatively unknown today? What were the consequences of the Canadian Campaign upon the later defense of New York and the Champlain Corridor when the British Army returned in force on both fronts? Join us to learn how the Woes of Richard Montgomery survived his demise, continuing to complicate the struggle for American Independence over the following year.

William P. Tatum III holds a Ph.D. in History from Brown University, focusing on the eighteenth-century British Empire. He is a peer-reviewed published author and delivers approximately 20 original research-based programs every year. Dr. Tatum has served as the official government historian of Dutchess County since October 2012 and has led the Dutchess County Rev250 Committee since 2019.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

History Caravan

Saturday, October 10
9:30 am
Visitor Center

Looking for a more in-depth, hands-on experience during your visit? Join a Park Volunteer for a caravan-style tour of the Battlefield! Tours will last 2.5-3 hours. Meet in the Visitor Center and follow along in your own vehicle for as long as you like. May be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

Hamilton Outdoor Movie Night

Saturday, October 10
6:30 p.m.
Schuyler Estate (4 Broad St, Schuylerville)

Join us on the lawn of their father’s Saratoga estate as the Schuyler sisters take center stage in the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton! Rated PG-13, runtime 160 minutes.

"The day must shortly come when these facts will be known to the World.”

Monday, October 12
1 p.m.
Visitor Center

Join us on the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Valcour Island for a new look at that legendary encounter traditionally credited with stopping the British invasion of 1776 and setting up the Battles of Saratoga the following year. Benedict Arnold's flotilla may have lost, but "never had any force, big or small, lived to better purpose or died more gloriously, for it had saved the lake for that year." At least that's what naval officer and historian Alfred Thayer Mahan boldly declared in his 1913 assessment of American War for Independence naval operations. The outrageousness of his hyperbole aside, is there any truth to Mahan's claim? What could the British have reasonably done differently to successfully retake Ticonderoga that fall? If nothing, how does that impact popular perception of Arnold's Valcour gambit? Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer will attempt to answer these questions and more.

Schuyler House Candlelight Tours

Wednesday, October 14
6 p.m.
Schuyler House

Experience the ambiance of an 18th Century house in the evening with a special candlelight tour through the Schuyler House! As you are led through the house, you will hear stories about life and events on the estate and the people who lived there. Candlelight tours are low light and may make walking through the house challenging for some visitors. Capacity limits will be in effect for safety and protection of visitors and the historic resources. Reservations are required and can only be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/candle-light-tour-of-the-schuyler-house-registration-2001030550242?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Fall Lecture Series
Morgan Lewis: The Making of a Patriot

Thursday, October 15, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center

Morgan Lewis is an often-overlooked figure of the American Revolution but one who was at the center of some of the most pivotal moments in the formation of America. The son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he defined a generation of young officers who, despite their youth and inexperience, brought tenacity and intellect that was the foundation for victory. His story is a far more complex and colorful narrative that provides a view into many aspects of life during the American Revolution and the early republic. From Princeton student to Quartermaster-General of the Northern Department during the War, to eventually serving as Governor of New York. We’ll explore his extraordinary life and a future that was defined by the Battle of Saratoga.

Presenter TR Hamilton is the Director of Preservation & Collections at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield, CT which includes the home of America’s first diplomat Silas Deane. He holds a BA in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA and an MS in conservation architecture from the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, UK. He has over twenty years of experience working with historic sites in the United States and United Kingdom with a focus on the built environment and material culture of the 17th to early 20th centuries.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

Surrender Day Trolley

Saturday, October 17
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Surrender Site, Saratoga Monument, Schuyler House, and Fort Hardy Park (Village of Schuylerville)

Celebrate the 249^th anniversary of Burgoyne’s surrender by visiting important related sites in the Villages of Schuylerville and Victory by trolley! Saratoga National Historical Park is excited to partner with Saratoga250 and CDTA to make this possible. Park at the Schuyler House or Fort Hardy Park for the hop-on-and-hop-off trolley. Visit with park staff and volunteers to learn about the importance of the Saratoga Surrender Site, Saratoga Monument, and Schuyler House and the events which took place there. Saratoga250 will be at the Saratoga Revolutionary Experience Center in Fort Fardy Park (30 Ferry St, Schuylerville).

Fall Lecture Series
Illuminating Lives: The Stories of Several Women During the American War for Independence

Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center

Using a variety of archival sources and research techniques, Saratoga National Historical Park Curator Christine Valosin will talk about six different women with ties to the Schuyler family or estate, illuminating little known stories of their lives during the turbulent years of the American War for Independence. The scope includes Barbara Gray Schuyler, Hannah Pettit, Bet and Britt (whose stories are closely intertwined and therefore presented together), Mary McAlpin, and Catherine Schuyler. Many of these women left little written evidence of their own, so their stories are reconstructed from indirect sources and contextual clues, allowing us to better understand their contributions and perspectives.

The focus is on the years 1776–1783, with the Schuyler Estate serving as the central anchor. The goal is to dig deep and tell a story about each woman so that we can say “we know them a little better now.”

A practiced genealogist, Valosin integrates information gleaned from a variety of sources. For this talk, she used material from Philip Schuyler’s Store Ledger, letters, 18th century prints, wartime ledger accounts, land records from the Philip Schuyler Papers, local and town histories, pension records, published and unpublished family histories, newspaper accounts, Loyalist Papers, and church records. Each source provides a different perspective, collectively illuminating the lives of six women whose contributions to the Schuyler Estate and the Revolutionary era illuminates our historical memory.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

November

Fall Lecture Series
When the Declaration of Independence Was News

Thursday, November 5, 2026
6:30 pm
Visitor Center

Published for the 250th anniversary of the United States, When the Declaration of Independence Was News focuses on the nation’s founding document at the moment of its creation in 1776, before anyone knew what the legacy of the Declaration would be or if the United States would win the war against Great Britain. It explores how the Declaration was communicated to people in the new nation and around the Atlantic world and reveals the stories of the many people involved in the process of declaring independence, from printers to soldiers to diplomats to translators.

Dr. Emily Sneff is an early American historian and leading expert on the Declaration of Independence. She earned her Ph.D. in History from William & Mary. She was a consulting curator for exhibitions marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration at the Museum of the American Revolution and Historic Trappe.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

Fall Lecture Series
Did the Battle of Redbank bring France into the War of Independence?

Thursday, November 12, 2026
6:30 pm
Visitor Center

Americans generally assume that the surrender of Sir John Burgoyne to General Horatio Gates at Saratoga on 17 October 1777 caused France to openly enter the American War of Independence. The American leadership interpreted the defeat at Saratoga within their military and political needs. Saratoga was of great military importance, an immense morale booster and extensively used for propaganda purposes. But France's decision to join the American rebels came after years of preparation and was by no means monocausal. For King Louis XVI and his Foreign minister, the comte de Vergennes, the American exploitation of the victory for domestic purposes was of little relevance. Their decision to join the Americans was based on where France placed Saratoga within the global political and military context and how it promoted, or hurt, French interests. The American war was waged on the fringes of European civilization, and France was primarily concerned with the impact an American victory, or defeat, would have on the balance of powers in Europe in general and on France in particular. This illustrated talk highlights the French interpretation of the Hessian debacle in the trenches around Fort Redbank and how that interpretation shaped Louis XVI’s decision to openly enter the war.

Robert A. Selig is a historical consultant who received his Ph.D. in history from the Universität Würzburg in Germany in 1988. He is a specialist on the role of French forces under the comte de Rochambeau during the American War of Independence and serves as project historian for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Project.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!

Fall Lecture Series
They Were Good Soldiers: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army

November 19, 2026
6:30 pm
Visitor Center

The role of African Americans, free and enslaved, in the regiments of the Continental Army is not well-known; neither is the fact that relatively large numbers served in southern regiments and that the greatest number served alongside their white comrades in integrated units. John Rees will discuss black soldiers’ acceptance, service, and experiences during and after the War for American Independence, focusing on those who served in Continental regiments. African American women with the army will also be featured.

John U. Rees has been writing for almost 40 years on the experiences of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution. He has authored over 200 articles, most available online at https://tinyurl.com/JohnURees-articles. His first book, They Were Good Soldiers: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783 was published in 2019; his second, titled Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865, came out in January 2025.

Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email [e-mail] to reserve your seat!