Experience winter life in the 18th century at Old Fort Niagara's Winter Woods Battle. The event features a skirmish in the woods between British and French troops, snowshoeing (weather permitting), winter survival techniques, shelter building, winter games,  fur trading, musket firings, demonstrations of fire starting with flint and steel and more.

Schedule of Activities

10:00 a.m. - Noon:  Write with a quill pen in the Sir William Johnson Room

10:00 a.m. - Noon: Play a game of snow snakes and other winter sports

10:00 a.m. - Noon: Winter Survival in the Fort and on the Trail. Experience how people stayed warm in the days before central heating and down parkas. 

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Food on the Frontier- watch a colonial cooking demonstration and learn what foods were eaten during the winter months.

10:15 a.m.: Musket Firing Demonstration

11:00 a.m.: Fur Trading Demonstration. Learn how Native Americans bartered furs for European-made goods. Handle various furs, hides and trade goods.

11:00 a.m. - 1:15p.m.: 18th century meal for sale in the Log Cabin. Warm up in the fort's cozy log cabin and enjoy some hearty traditional recipes.

11:15 a.m.: Musket Firing Demonstration

Noon: Start a fire with flint and steel.

12:15 p.m.: Musket Firing Demonstration

12:30 p.m. Shelter Building. Try your hand at building a wilderness shelter like they did in the 18th century. 

1:00 p.m.: Tinsmithing- make and take a tin ornament.

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Write with a quill pen in the Sir William Johnson Room.

1:15 p.m.: Musket Firing Demonstration

1:30 p.m. Snowshoes and their History- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

2:00 p.m.: Snowshoe Patrol/Winter Hike Join the fort's garrison as they patrol east to the woods along Lake Ontario. When you meet enemy soldiers, a skirmish ensues. Afterwards, enjoy complimentary hot chocolate in the woods camp. Warning! This is an approximately 1 1/2 mile hike over rough ground.

2:00 p.m. Fur trading demonstration at the Fort.

2:15 p.m. Musket Firing Demonstration

3:15 p.m. Musket Firing Demonstration

4:00 p.m. Musket Firing Demonstration

Old Fort Niagara reserves the right to alter the program without notice.