Here are a few events going on in and around Gettysburg, and at Civil War Tails!

Join us on Memorial Day to watch the annual Memorial Day Parade, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Lefever Street and ending at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.  The parade marches past our building, and you are welcome to escape the sun and join us on our front porch!  This is a special parade–the soldiers’ orphans who used to live in our house and the original orphanage next door would march in the parade to the cemetery where many of their fathers–Union soldiers who died in the war–were buried.  The children of the Gettysburg Area School District carry on the tradition.  Another highlight is seeing a restored Huey helicopter from the Vietnam War–and the veterans riding in it–thanks to Helicopter Applicators, Inc. of Gettysburg and the local American Legion Post 202.

Join us on Labor Day weekend for our Civil War Tails Anniversary Scavenger Hunt! We’ll be celebrating on Friday, Saturday, and Labor Day Monday with scavenger hunts for adults and kids (with prizes!), plus a discount on admission. The museum will be open 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The scavenger hunt searches for specific facts or features throughout the dioramas – and don’t worry, you don’t need to know anything about the Civil War to complete the hunt (but you’ll learn some along the way!). Come join us for some fun and don’t forget to start your Christmas shopping (or list!) while you’re here!

Come enjoy a bit of the Christmas season in Gettysburg!

• Ready to do some Christmas shopping? Think #ShopGettysburgFirst and come to Gettysburg or shop online at some of our local stores! Don’t know where to start? Check out Main Street Gettysburg’s special website designed to help you see what Gettysburg has to offer! Of course, don’t forget to check out our own Merchandise here! Still too many options? Here are some of our own favorites:
  • GettysGear – they have great coffee (especially “The General” blend).
  • Polish Pottery – beautiful authentic hand-painted mugs, platters, and so much more — and they’re oven and microwave safe! Designs are unique, so their inventory is constantly changing, so it might be best (and let’s face it, more fun) to visit them in person! (Their big mugs are perfect for a cup of tea on a winter evening.)
  • Christmas Haus – authentic German blown-glass ornaments (it takes more willpower than I have to walk out of the store without buying anything!)
• Kick the season off with “A Gettysburg Christmas Festival,” a time of music, fun games, shopping, decorations, carriage rides, hot cocoa, and much more. Check out the website for this year’s dates and more information. And don’t forget to stop by Civil War Tails! We’ll be open on Friday and Saturday with a Civil War Tails Christmas Scavenger Hunt, discounted admission, several Christmas trees, and 9,000 cats-worth of Christmas cheer!
  • 2023: the Festival is planned for the first weekend in December! Our scavenger hunt will run 12/1-12/2. 
• You can also check out Destination Gettysburg’s Events Calendar for various special activities throughout the month of December. Some of our personal favorites are:
  • The Shriver House – tour the house and see what several Christmases were like for the Shriver family during the Civil War
  • “A Christmas Carol,” presented by Totem Pole Playhouse and shown in the Majestic Theater in the center of Gettysburg
  • Eisenhower Farm – see the house decorated as Ike and Mamie would have celebrated Christmas. Tickets and shuttle are available at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor’s Center