events // fort harrison state park
Looking for the the latest on what's happening at the Fort Harrison State Park Nature Center? Check the official DNR Park Calendar!
monthly meetings
The Friends hold their monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month at the Visitor's Center. The next meeting is May 2 at 7:00pm at the Nature Center.
maintenance mondays
Our Maintenance Monday team meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month to tackle different maintenance items for the park. This group typically focuses on invasive species removal and identification from 5:30-7:30pm in the evenings.
tuesday troops
Aptly named the "Tuesday Troops", these weekday warriors gather on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 8:30-10:00am with a heavy focus on weeding and maintaining the gardens in different areas of the park.
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upcoming friends events
Join us for our monthly meeting and learn more about the Friends of Fort Harrison. Meetings generally last 1-2 hours and take place at the Nature Center.
Join us for Tuesday Troops, on May 14, at 8:30am. Please meet at the Nature Center as we focus on park gardens, invasive plants, and other park requests. We will work until 10 or 10:30am.
Join us for Maintenance Mondays, beginning on May 20, at 5:30pm. Please meet at the Nature Center as we focus on removing invasive plants from Schoen Creek Meadow. We will supply gloves & hand tools, please bring your own water.
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annual events // fort harrison state park
First Day Hike
If it's a new year, you can always count on your local Indiana State Park for a First Day Hike and Fort Harrison State Park is no different, rain or shine! We've seen all the elements - rain, snow, shine - you name it! Regardless, we will be out there, and we hope you will too! Mark the calendar and join us for a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie while we break the new year in with a brisk hike along Harrison Trace paved trail!
BBQ & Blues Festival
Thanks to all of our sponsors for a successful 2023! With the support of our Festival Sponsor, the City of Lawrence, the Friends of Fort Harrison hosted our 5th Annual BBQ & Blues Festival on September 16. With additional community support from Katz Sapper & Miller, Context Design, Curran Architecture, and Fort Harrison Reuse Authority, the Friends were able to provide parking services courtesy of Tier 1 Valet.
With Cherry Tree Shelter acting as our Festival Beer Tent, park visitors stood witness as the likes of John Ford, Queen Delphine & the Crown Jewels, King Bee & the Stingers, and The Blues Ambassadors took to the stage for over five hours of relaxing Blues performances. With some local BBQ food trucks throwing down fall-off-the-bone meats, and some delicious frozen desserts provided by local legends Moo & Lou, how could you not have a good time?
If you're interested in the 2024 BBQ & Blues Festival, look no further! We are currently accepting applications for food trucks, musical performances, and mission-aligned vendors. If you'd rather help out on event day, we are always seeking volunteers as well!
With Cherry Tree Shelter acting as our Festival Beer Tent, park visitors stood witness as the likes of John Ford, Queen Delphine & the Crown Jewels, King Bee & the Stingers, and The Blues Ambassadors took to the stage for over five hours of relaxing Blues performances. With some local BBQ food trucks throwing down fall-off-the-bone meats, and some delicious frozen desserts provided by local legends Moo & Lou, how could you not have a good time?
If you're interested in the 2024 BBQ & Blues Festival, look no further! We are currently accepting applications for food trucks, musical performances, and mission-aligned vendors. If you'd rather help out on event day, we are always seeking volunteers as well!
Hauntumn & Soldier's Haunt
BRRAAAAIIINNSS...Halloween is always a unique time at Fort Harrison State Park, with a range of different themed activities throughout the years. Most recently, the Friends of Fort Harrison State Park have collaborated with the Storytelling Arts of Indiana to host Hauntumn at Fort Ben -- a storytelling with pumpkins (for decoration of course) and candy provided by the Friends groups for all visitors. Capping the evening off is a classic twist on reenactments, the Soldier's Haunt! Coordinated by the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, the Soldier's Haunt is a simulated zombie invasion, with reenactors from the Museum defending park guests!
Environmental Action Days
With generous volunteer support through grants, donations, company workdays, and community-action days, the Friends of Fort Harrison hosts environmental action days as often as possible through many different forms - trail maintenance, invasives species removal, native plantings, and trash pickup. These days are integrated throughout the year as different needs across the park arise.