Morristown, NJ

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Sep

Reenactment

Hands on History: Candle Dipping

Wick House, Tempe Wick Road. Parking available off the main park tour road.

Before the flip of a switch, there was the flicker of a flame! Join us for a live candle dipping demonstration and learn how 18th-century families crafted their own light from tallow and wax. Watch as candles take shape through repeated dips and drying, and discover how this essential household task illuminated the homes, kitchens, and campsites of Revolutionary War-era Morristown. A bright and fascinating look at life before modern conveniences!

Free

Sep

Reenactment

Hands on History: Apple Butter

Wick House, Tempe Wick Road. Parking available off the main park tour road.

Sweet, spiced, and steeped in history! Join us for a live apple butter demonstration and learn how 18th-century families made the most of the harvest season by transforming fresh apples into a beloved staple of the colonial pantry. From the long-simmered kettle to the finished spread, discover the time, skill, and community effort that went into preserving food for the winter months at Morristown. A rich and flavorful glimpse into the past!

Free

Oct

Festival

Morristown Festival on the Green

Morristown Green, Morristown, NJ

Annual community heritage festival held on the historic Morristown Green featuring live entertainment, local artisans, food vendors, and historical programming that celebrates the town's rich colonial and Revolutionary War legacy. The event draws thousands and highlights the Green's significance as a gathering place since the 18th century.

FreeTypically held on a Saturday in early October; contact the Morristown Partnership or Town of Morristown to confirm dates.More info →

Dec

Guided Tour

Wick House Holiday and Hearth Cooking Demonstrations

Wick House, Jockey Hollow, Morristown National Historical Park

Seasonal living history program at the restored Wick House, headquarters of Major General Arthur St. Clair during the 1779–1780 encampment. Park rangers and volunteers demonstrate 18th-century open-hearth cooking, domestic life, and the role of the Wick family during the Revolution.

FreeTypically held in December during the holiday season; contact Morristown National Historical Park to confirm dates.More info →

Earlier This Year

Apr

ReenactmentFeatured

Revolutionary Times Living History Weekend

Jockey Hollow, Morristown National Historical Park

Annual living history program at Jockey Hollow featuring Continental Army reenactors demonstrating camp life, musket firings, cooking, drilling, and soldier hardships during the brutal 1779–1780 winter encampment. Rangers and volunteers in period dress interpret the daily struggles of Washington's troops.

Free (standard park entrance fees may apply)Typically held in spring; contact Morristown National Historical Park for exact dates each year.More info →

Jan

Ceremony

Anniversary of Washington's Arrival Commemoration

Washington's Headquarters Museum & Ford Mansion, Morristown National Historical Park

Ceremony and ranger-led programs marking the anniversary of George Washington's arrival in Morristown with the Continental Army in January 1777. Programs at the Ford Mansion (Washington's Headquarters) include tours of the mansion, talks on Washington's leadership during the crisis, and exhibits at the Washington's Headquarters Museum.

Free (standard entrance fees may apply)Typically held in early January; contact Morristown National Historical Park to confirm specific dates each year.More info →

Jun

Reenactment

Colonial Games at Washington's Headquarters Museum

Activities will be lead in the Washington's Headquarters Museum Auditorium.

Step back in time and experience the fun of 18th-century games at the Washington Headquarters Museum! Challenge your friends and family with the same pastimes that entertained children and soldiers long before screens, video games, and modern board games. Test your skills, learn a little history, and enjoy a morning of hands-on fun. Perfect for all ages—no experience needed!

Free

Jun

Reenactment

Stories & Stitches at Jockey Hollow

Crafting will take place with a ranger outside the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.

Bring your favorite supplies and join us for an afternoon of crafting, conversation, and history! As you work on your latest project, listen to stories of Jockey Hollow and the soldiers who endured the hardships of the winter encampment during the American Revolution. All skill levels are welcome. Whether you're an experienced crocheter or just getting started, come stitch and learn with us!

Free

Jul

Ceremony

Independence Day Celebration on Morristown Green

Morristown Green, Morristown, NJ

Annual Fourth of July commemoration on the historic Morristown Green, where Continental soldiers once mustered. The celebration typically features patriotic speeches, historical readings, live music, and community festivities honoring Morristown's central role in the American Revolution.

FreeJuly 4th or nearest weekend; check with the Town of Morristown for schedule details.

Jul

Reenactment

Soldier at the Jockey Hollow Huts

The huts at Jockey Hollow. Parking available off the park tour road.

Come chat with a costumed interpreter about the life of a soldier at Jockey Hollow!

Free

Jul

Reenactment

Explore the Historic Wick Farm & Garden!

The Wick Garden, located across from the historic Wick Farm goat barn near a primary trailhead, offers a glimpse into the plants, farming practices, and daily life that sustained both the Wick family and Revolutionary War soldiers.

Step back in time with a guided tour of the historic Wick Farm and Garden at Morristown National Historical Park! Join a park ranger to discover the stories of the Wick family, explore one of the park's most scenic locations, and learn how this unique living history garden helps interpret daily life during the Continental Army's winter encampment of 1779–1780.

Free

Jul

Reenactment

Colonial Crafts at Washington's Headquarters Museum

Morristown National Historical Park

<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">How did children play before plastic and batteries? Learn how children of the colonial era made and played with dolls and other toys, then try your hand at making a yarn doll of your own. Fun for all ages.</div>

Free

Jul

Reenactment

Colonial Crafts: Corn Husk Dolls and More at Jockey Hollow

Morristown National Historical Park

Free

Jul

Reenactment

Birding Walk at Jockey Hollow

Meet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center

Join a park ranger for a morning of birding through the fields and forests of Jockey Hollow, where Revolutionary War history and rich wildlife habitat meet. This section of Morristown National Historical Park supports a wide variety of resident and migratory species, from woodpeckers and warblers to hawks and grassland birds. Bring binoculars if you have them; a limited number of loaner pairs will be available. All skill levels welcome, from curious beginners to experienced birders. Meet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at 9am.

Free

Jul

Reenactment

Explore the Historic Wick Farm & Garden!

Free

Aug

Reenactment

Hands on History: Butter Demonstration

Wick House, Tempe Wick Road. Parking available off the main park tour road.

Step back in time and experience history firsthand! Join us for a live butter-making demonstration where you'll discover how 18th-century families transformed fresh cream into this everyday essential. Watch the process unfold, learn about the tools and techniques used at Morristown during the Revolutionary War era, and see how something as simple as butter connected households to the rhythms of colonial life. A fun and engaging experience for visitors of all ages!

Free

Aug

Reenactment

Colonial Games at Washington's Headquarters Museum

Games will be hosted in the Washington's Headquarters Museum Auditorium.

Free

Aug

Reenactment

Hands on History: Weaving Demonstration

Wick House, Tempe Wick Road. Parking available off the main park tour road.

Discover the art of the loom! Join us for a live weaving demonstration and explore how 18th-century families produced the cloth that kept them clothed and warm through harsh Revolutionary War winters. Watch skilled hands at work, learn about the tools and traditions behind this essential craft, and gain a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and labor that shaped everyday life at Morristown. A hands-on experience that brings history to life!

Free

Aug

Reenactment

18th Century Hike at Jockey Hollow

Meet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center

Lace up your boots and hit the trail through history! Join one of our knowledgeable rangers for a guided hike through the same landscapes where Continental Army soldiers camped, marched, and endured the hardships of the Revolutionary War. Along the way, discover how the terrain, forests, and natural resources of Morristown shaped military strategy and everyday survival during one of the most pivotal periods in American history. A great way to explore the park and connect with the past from the ground up!

Free