Old Fort Niagara invites the public to experience the holiday spirit in the company of 18^th century-style merrymakers at this season’s Castle by Candlelight tours on December 9 and 16. Music, crafts, demonstrations and more will make the French Castle, decorated by the Youngstown Garden Club, brim with festivities. The event will also include the feu de joie celebratory cannon and musket firings.

This seasonal fundraiser offers hands-on activities and interactive history demonstrations, including exhibits of fur trading, woodworking and silversmithing, preparing an 18^th century meal, soldiers’ activities, playing games, writing with quill pens, and making crafts. Music will be provided by the fort’s field musicians and local musicians who play period tunes. Historical characters will be everywhere to share history and welcome guests.

Unique to this event are the "feu de joie" (firing of joy) musket and cannon firings, which recreate an 18^thcentury military ceremony that celebrated great victory. Firings occur at 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. As in years past, the fort and its pathways will be illuminated by candlelight, and the French Castle will be festively decorated for the holidays by the Youngstown Garden Club using natural evergreen boughs, ribbons, flowers and ornaments.

Tickets will be available only at the door for $10 per person from 6:30 pm to 8 p.m. each night. Children ages 5 and under are free. Visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, wear walking footwear and bring a flashlight. The event is a fundraiser for the fort’s educational programing.

Homemade soup, hot cocoa and cookies will be for sale onsite at the Trading Post (while supplies last), while musicians provide live holiday music for customers.

The fort's Museum Shop will also be open, offering a wide variety of books, apparel, historic reproductions and other unique gift items.