Description: Weekend Program Schedule October 10 & 11 FPSHP 2026
Location: Fort Pillow State Park
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
National Chili Month, Raptor Month, Squirrel Month, Bat Appreciation Month
Saturday, October 10, 2026
10:00 am: Welcome Campers! Be on the lookout for Seasonal Ranger Chris as he will be delivering goodies to our campers and informing them of the upcoming events that will be held over the weekend.
11:00 am: Hike to Arkansas! Join Seasonal Ranger Chris for an invigorating 1.5 mile moderate hike from the Overlook to the Chute oxbow lake. This is a rare section of the park that visitors never get to see. We will hike through the 30 acres that slipped off the side of Fort Pillow in 1908 and changed the course of the Mississippi River, creating new land for Arkansas on the east side of the river. $5.00 fee.
4:00 pm: Cornhole and S’More! Meet seasonal ranger at the campground to celebrate National Chili Month with an invigorating game of Cornhole with Chili and S’Mores refreshments. Notes: (1) The game of Cornhole is closely related to the game of Horseshoes, made popular in the United States during the Americal Civil War. The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) grew out of the throwing of mule shoes in the Union Camps during the Civil War. Courts sprang up in the backyards of Union states after the war. (2) During the Civil War, medicine was scarce, so the plant Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) was used to treat inflammations of the throat and stomach, and in the treatment of skin eruptions. The roots were boiled into a slimy mass that was used to coat the throat or stomach. To make the herb more pleasant, doctors extracted the juice from the marshmallow plant, cooked it with egg white and sugar then whipped it into a puffy meringue, which hardened into a candy that was administered to the patient.
6:00 pm: Civil War Ghost Stories: During the American Civil War in the 1800s, campfires served as the social heart of military encampments, where soldiers gathered to share stories, combat homesickness, and build camaraderie. Join Seasonal Ranger Chris at the campground for dramatic tellings of Civil War Ghost Stories.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
8:00 am: Flat Water Paddling -- Kayak Fort Pillow Lake: In Flat Water Paddling 101, you will learn how to properly fit and wear a life jacket, safely enter/exit a kayak or canoe, practice paddling strokes, and more! At the end of this program, participants may use their kayak to continue on a self-guided paddling experience and lake clean-up. Meet seasonal ranger at the dock at Fort Pillow Lake. All equipment is provided. Please bring water and any needed sun protection.
9:00 am: Trash and Litter Scavenger Hunt: Meet seasonal ranger at the campground for a final "micro-trash" sweep of the entire campground. Turning in a bag of collected trash will earn children a park sticker or other prize!
12:00 pm: Museum Tour and Video: Meet seasonal ranger at the museum for an informative tour through the exhibits, insight into what a soldier would have carried in his pack, and to view the film on the Civil War battle Fort Pillow.
1:00 pm: Hike to the Restored Fortification: Meet the seasonal ranger at the museum for a short, informative round-trip hike up to the newly restored fortification where most of the battle at Fort Pillow took place. Along the way, hikers will cross the newly installed 120-yard-long suspension bridge, which is the longest in the TN State Parks. Ask about All-terrain wheelchairs that can be driven all the way to the Fort.
Event Document:
Download Information
Program Host: Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Contact Email: tyson.weller@tn.gov
Contact Phone: 731-738-5581