Harpers Ferry's calendar runs on a few big annual events plus the National Park Service's history programs, most of them tied to anniversaries. This page lists what is confirmed between November 2026 and December 2027. Where an organizer has not yet published dates, it says when the event usually happens and who to check with. Dates were checked against each organizer's own site on November 8, 2026.
Know before you go
| Next event | NPS Veterans Day ceremony, Sat Nov 14, 2026 (time TBA) |
| Next fee-free day | Wed Nov 11, 2026 (Veterans Day), US citizens and residents |
| Christmas | Olde Tyme Christmas: Dec 4 (6–9pm), Dec 5–6 and Dec 12–13, 2026 — organizer |
| Park closed | Thanksgiving (Nov 26, 2026), Dec 25, Jan 1 — NPS hours |
| First confirmed 2027 event | A.T. Flip-Flop Kickoff, Apr 23–25, 2027 |
| Entry | $20 per vehicle, 3 days, no cash — fees & parking |
| Footbridge | Closed (as of Nov 2026) — status |
What events are coming up in Harpers Ferry?
The next two are both Veterans Day events: an NPS fee-free day on November 11, 2026, and a wreath-laying at the Storer College Veterans' Monument on November 14. After that comes Olde Tyme Christmas on the first two weekends of December. Here is the full calendar. Bold dates are published by the organizer; the rest are typical timing only.
| When | Event | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2026 | NPS fee-free day (Veterans Day) | Harpers Ferry NHP | Confirmed |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Veterans Day Ceremony: Soldiers at Harpers Ferry | Storer College Veterans' Monument | Confirmed; time TBA |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Park closed (Thanksgiving) | Harpers Ferry NHP | Confirmed |
| Dec 4, 2026, 6–9pm | Olde Tyme Christmas opening ceremony | Lower Town | Confirmed; subject to change |
| Dec 5–6 and 12–13, 2026 | Olde Tyme Christmas weekends | Harpers Ferry and Bolivar | Confirmed; subject to change |
| Dec 25, 2026; Jan 1, 2027 | Park closed | Harpers Ferry NHP | Confirmed |
| Feb–Nov 2027 | NPS fee-free days | Harpers Ferry NHP | 2027 dates not posted |
| Apr 23–25, 2027 | Appalachian Trail Flip-Flop Kickoff | Harpers Ferry, Bolivar, Brunswick MD | Save-the-date posted |
| May 14–15, 2027 | World Fiddle Day Harpers Ferry | Venues around town | Dates posted; tickets not on sale |
| Early July 2027 | Independence Day | Harpers Ferry NHP and area | Check NPS in June |
| Usually early August | Appalachian Chamber Music Festival concert honoring Don Redman | Storer College lawn | Check with the festival |
| Usually mid-September | Battle of Harpers Ferry (1862) anniversary programs | Bolivar Heights and other battlefield sites | Check NPS |
| Last full weekend of September | Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival | Kearneysville, WV | 2027 dates not posted |
| Usually early October | Harpers Ferry Highland Games | Shenandoah Junction, WV | Check with organizer |
| Usually mid-October | John Brown's raid anniversary programs | Lower Town | Check NPS |
| Usually first two weekends of December | Olde Tyme Christmas 2027 | Harpers Ferry and Bolivar | Check with organizer |
When is Olde Tyme Christmas?
Olde Tyme Christmas 2026 opens Friday, December 4, from 6 to 9pm, and continues on Saturday–Sunday, December 5–6 and December 12–13. The organizer lists the schedule as subject to change. The celebration has run in Harpers Ferry and Bolivar since 1971 and usually takes the first two weekends of December. The organizer describes festive markets, carolers, live music, period performances and craft workshops.
For 2026 the organizer says event parking is at the Cavalier Heights parking area with a free shuttle to Lower Town. Confirm that on experienceharpersferry.com before you go, and remember NPS lots close 30 minutes after sunset. Everything else, from parking to where to eat, is in our Christmas in Harpers Ferry guide.
When are the national park fee-free days?
The 2027 fee-free days had not been posted as of November 2026. The last 2026 fee-free day is Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day). In 2026 the NPS waived entrance fees on eight occasions, for US citizens and residents only:
- February 16 (Presidents Day)
- May 25 (Memorial Day)
- June 14 (Flag Day)
- July 3–5 (Independence Day weekend)
- August 25 (NPS birthday)
- September 17 (Constitution Day)
- October 27 (Theodore Roosevelt's birthday)
- November 11 (Veterans Day)
The list changes from year to year (Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth were dropped for 2026), so don't assume 2027 will match. Check the NPS fees page. For where to park, see parking, fees and shuttle.
When is the Appalachian Trail Flip-Flop Kickoff?
The 2027 Flip-Flop Kickoff is April 23–25, 2027, according to the organizers' save-the-date; they plan to post the schedule in winter 2027. It is a community send-off for hikers starting a "flip-flop" thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from the middle, run by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Harpers Ferry–Bolivar Trail & Town Alliance and the Town of Brunswick, Maryland. In 2026 it was free and included hiking workshops, pack shakedowns and a send-off breakfast.
For the 2026 event, organizers listed parking at the Visitor Center (fee, with shuttle), the train station lot (fee), Curtis Freewill Baptist Church and local streets. For the trail and the ATC Visitor Center, see the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry guide.
What happens at World Fiddle Day?
World Fiddle Day Harpers Ferry is set for May 14–15, 2027, with jam sessions, workshops and concerts at venues within walking distance of each other. As of November 2026 the organizers say they are in the planning stages and tickets are not on sale. The 2026 edition was May 15–16, run in partnership with the Harpers Ferry–Bolivar Historic Town Foundation.
Is there a Fourth of July celebration in Harpers Ferry?
The national park waived entrance fees July 3–5 in 2026, but no 2027 Independence Day program had been announced as of November 2026. Look for park programs on nps.gov/hafe in June. For fireworks and community events, check with the Town of Harpers Ferry and Jefferson County. July is also peak river season; see tubing and rafting.
What history programs does the National Park Service hold each year?
The park marks two anniversaries every fall, plus Veterans Day. Program titles and dates change each year, so treat the 2026 details as a guide.
| Anniversary | Usual timing | 2026 programs |
|---|---|---|
| 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry (Jackson's capture of the Union garrison on Sept 15, 1862) | Mid-September | Sept 12–15, 2026 (164th): artillery demonstrations at Bolivar Heights, a ranger-led Maryland Heights hike, and walks at Bolivar Heights and Murphy-Chambers Farm, included with park admission |
| John Brown's raid (Oct 16–18, 1859) | Mid-October | Oct 10, 2026 "Sacrifices & Circumstances"; Oct 16 "Proceed to the Ferry," a 5-mile night march from the Kennedy Farm in Maryland ($200, registration required); Oct 17–18 "At All Times Ready" living history with the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company |
| Veterans Day | November | Nov 14, 2026 wreath-laying at the Storer College Veterans' Monument |
The background is in our guides to John Brown's raid, the Civil War at Harpers Ferry and Storer College.
In August 2026 the park and the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival held a free evening concert on the Storer College lawn honoring Don Redman, the jazz arranger who studied at Storer from 1916 to 1920. The NPS did not describe it as annual, so check with the festival for 2027.
What festivals happen near Harpers Ferry?
Two big fall festivals are close by in Jefferson County, but not in Harpers Ferry itself:
- Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival. The 50th festival ran September 25–27, 2026, 10am–5pm, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 1707 Old Leetown Pike, Kearneysville. The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce says it is "always the last full (Fri-Sun) weekend in September." The 2027 dates were not posted as of November 2026; check mhacfestival.org.
- Harpers Ferry Highland Games. The 2026 games ran October 3–4, 9am–6pm, at Sam Michaels Park, 235 Sam Michaels Lane, Shenandoah Junction, run by the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society (WV Tourism listing). No 2027 date had been posted; check with the society at hfccs.org.
Fall weekends are also peak foliage season; see the fall foliage guide.
Are there events every weekend?
Not formal ones, but ghost tours run in Lower Town and ranger programs run in the park; schedules vary. See the ghost tours guide and ask at the Visitor Center about ranger talks on the day you visit.
How do you plan around an event?
The NPS calls Lower Town parking extremely limited, so on event days park at the Visitor Center lot (about 1,000 spaces) and ride the shuttle, and note that the last bus is at 5:30pm in standard time. For evening events, check the organizer's parking advice. If you are coming for a whole weekend, book a room early; see where to stay. For timed day plans, see the Harpers Ferry itinerary, and for everything else, plan your visit.
