Special to The Island News
The Friends of Fort Fremont invite the public to step back in time at the 3rd annual Fort Fremont Harvest Festival, set for Sunday, November 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Fort Fremont Preserve at 1124 Land’s End Road on St. Helena Island.
This year’s festival promises fun for all ages with historical reenactments, music, games, crafts and local food. Visitors will be greeted by Teddy Roosevelt and a Buffalo Soldier, who will bring Fort Fremont’s 1898 history to life. Children and parents are encouraged to join Roosevelt’s troops in re-creating the Charge up San Juan Heights at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Buffalo Soldiers, composed primarily of African American men — many formerly enslaved or free men from the North — served with distinction during the Spanish-American War, fighting alongside Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.
“This event keeps getting bigger and better each year,” organizers said. “It’s a great way for families to enjoy local history, food and fun.”
Festival activities will include period games, live music, crafts and historical reenactors in era-appropriate costumes. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on activities such as hat decorating and pumpkin art. Area nonprofits will offer interactive history and nature displays, including a demonstration on Carolina rice culture. Popular local food vendors will be on site.
Admission is free. Food and crafts will be available for purchase. A free shuttle service will operate from Land’s End Woodlands Road, about one mile from the preserve. The event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
A living piece of history
Fort Fremont was built in 1898 during the Spanish-American War as part of the coastal defense system protecting Port Royal Sound and the Naval Station at Parris Island. Today, Beaufort County owns 18 acres of the original site, which now serves as a passive park featuring walking trails, a picnic pavilion, historic batteries and a History Center with a diorama and period artifacts.
The preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk, free of charge. The History Center exhibit hall is open Thursday through Sunday and is staffed by Friends of Fort Fremont volunteers.
Preserving the legacy
The Friends of Fort Fremont work in partnership with Beaufort County to preserve and promote the site’s educational, historical, natural and cultural resources. Their mission is to ensure that the story of Fort Fremont and its people continues to inspire visitors for generations to come. For more information, visit www.fortfremont.org.
