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On December 12, Fort Towson’s free afternoon program pairs a living-history interpretation of changing Christmas customs with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a tractor tour and historic games.
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
A soldier waiting for packages from home anchors Christmas at the Fort: the scene places one holiday in an 1860s military camp, while the interpretation considers customs that have endured and others that have faded. The program runs Saturday, December 12, at Fort Towson Historic Site.
The living-history interpretation centers on an 1860s camp and a soldier waiting for packages from home. It uses that setting to look at 19th-century Christmas practices, including traditions the organizers describe as still familiar and others that are no longer commonly observed.
That makes the camp scene one entry point into a broader subject, rather than a claim that Christmas has always looked the same. The event listing does not identify the soldier with a particular historical person.
Further reading: Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗
Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to be in the reconstructed sutler store, where they will give out cookies and toys. A tractor tour of the grounds and historic games are also on the program, making the two-hour afternoon a mix of interpretation and family activities.
The calendar gives the event as one 1–3 p.m. window, not a timed sequence. It does not specify when the camp interpretation, Santa’s visit, tour or games begin, so visitors should avoid planning around a particular activity’s exact start.
Further reading: Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Fort Towson Historic Site | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗
Fort Towson was established in 1824. Its history includes the displacement of Choctaw and Chickasaw people from their southeastern lands; the fort served as a dispersal point for them after their arrival in the West. That history is part of the site’s wider interpretation, though it is not identified as a subject of this Christmas program.
The fort later served as a staging area for U.S. forces during the Mexican War and, for a time, as Confederate headquarters during the Civil War. In 1865, General Stand Watie surrendered his command near the fort; the Oklahoma Historical Society identifies him as the last Confederate general to surrender.
Beyond the event, the site’s visitor center interprets the fort, nearby Doaksville and the steamboat Heroine. A reconstructed sutler store, teamster’s cabin and walking trail among historic ruins are also part of the site. The published information does not establish which of these will be open as part of the free event.
Further reading: Fort Towson Historic Site | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗
The calendar places the camp interpretation, Santa and Mrs. Claus, tractor tour and historic games within the 1–3 p.m. event window. It gives no separate timetable, so visitors cannot rely on a particular activity starting at a specific time.
The event listing gives one two-hour window in Central Time; it does not publish separate start times for the activities.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Fort Towson Historic Site | OHS Calendar ↗
Christmas at the Fort is advertised as a free event. The site’s general visit page separately lists regular admission: adults $10; seniors age 62 and older $8; students ages 6–18 $5; children 5 and under free; family admission for up to six people $30; and groups of 10 or more $7 per person. Oklahoma Historical Society and NARM members are listed as free. Veterans and active military with ID are also listed as free; eligible dependents with ID are listed as free from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day, May 16–September 7, 2026.
The pages do not clarify whether the event’s free admission covers the visitor-center exhibits or other parts of a broader site visit. Call ahead if you are planning to visit beyond the event.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗
The event is at 896 N 4375 Road, Fort Towson, OK 74735. For questions, call 580-873-2634.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Fort Towson Historic Site | OHS Calendar ↗
The calendar categorizes the event for children and families but gives no age restriction or reservation instructions. Call the site if either affects your plans.
The site’s general visit page lists hours of 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The event itself is scheduled for 1–3 p.m.
Plan Your Visit | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗ · Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗
The event location is Fort Towson Historic Site, 896 N 4375 Road, Fort Towson, OK 74735. The official visit page provides a map link that can calculate directions from your starting point.
The published information does not give event-specific transit, parking, entrance or accessibility details. Contact the site at 580-873-2634 with questions about arrival or access.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗
The event listing describes Christmas at the Fort as free. The site’s general visit page separately lists regular admission rates; it does not clarify whether those apply to visitor-center exhibits during the event.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Plan Your Visit | Oklahoma Historical Society ↗
No separate start times are published. The listing places all activities within the 1–3 p.m. event window.
The event is categorized for children and families, but the listing gives no age limit or reservation instructions. Call Fort Towson Historic Site at 580-873-2634 to check.
Fort Towson Historic Site, 896 N 4375 Road, Fort Towson, OK 74735.
Christmas at the Fort | OHS Calendar ↗ · Fort Towson Historic Site | OHS Calendar ↗
896 N 4375 Road, Fort Towson, OK 74735
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-11-01 against the linked sources.