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Event
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is presenting three public programs in October 2026 focused on John Brown's raid and its aftermath.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is presenting three public programs in October 2026 focused on John Brown's raid and its aftermath. The events mark the 167th anniversary of the raid on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry.
The first major program, "Sacrifices & Circumstances," is scheduled for October 10, 2026. It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided walking tours depart from John Brown's Fort at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., while a ranger program takes place in Arsenal Square at 1 p.m.
On October 16, the park hosts "Proceed to the Ferry: John Brown's March Commemoration" from 5 p.m. until midnight. This hike retraces the path from Kennedy Farm in Washington County, Maryland, to Harpers Ferry, covering a distance of five miles. Shuttle service is provided, and music and a historical meal are included. Advance registration is required, and the number of participants is capped. The cost is 200 dollars, and sign-ups are processed through a Zeffy ticketing page.
The weekend of October 17 and 18 features the "At All Times Ready" living-history program. Park staff together with volunteers from the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company will stage demonstrations depicting U.S. Marines, Harpers Ferry townspeople, formerly enslaved people, and John Brown.
Participation in the October programs is covered by standard park admission except where a program states otherwise. The October 16 hike requires a separate fee and registration.
The mailing address for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is PO Box 65, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
Visitor planning details for the park are posted at nps.gov/hafe/index.htm, with further information available at harpersferryhistory.org. Call 304-535-6029 for more information.
The National Park Service was established in 1916.
Newsroom
Event
The raid ran 16 to 18 October. The execution followed on 2 December at Charles Town. Visiting on either date is a different experience, for opposite reasons.
October 16 – October 18
Who reported this
Senior Editor
Prudence has edited mid-Atlantic travel coverage for twelve years and owns the practical pages here: the Cavalier Heights lot, the shuttle timetable either side of the clock change, fees that are card-only, and which navigation apps send drivers down a hill with nowhere to stop. She quotes park figures with the date she checked them.
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