This year celebrates the 245th Anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens! Commemorate this historic occasion at Cowpens National Battlefield with historic weapons demonstrations, cavalry talks, ranger programs, children’s activities, and more!
Cowpens National Battlefield is located at 4001 Chesnee Hwy, Gaffney, SC, 29341. All activities are free to the public, though some events require advance registration due to limited space. A movie about the park itself will play every hour at the visitor’s center. Featured authors will be available to sign books in the visitor’s center for an hour following their weekend talks. Also, for your safety and the horses’, park regulations prohibit visitors from approaching within 6 feet of the horses. More detailed information on both days’ schedules is as follows:
First Day – January 17th, 2026:
- Morning Sessions (10 am – 11:45 am): These events include guided battlefield walks, musical performances, weapons firing demonstrations, and a wreath-laying ceremony by the Sons of the American Revolution.
- Afternoon Sessions (12 – 3:45 pm): In the afternoon, look forward to multiple talks by authors and historians, Cavalry and weapons firing demonstrations, and additional guided battlefield walks. Musket drilling with dummy guns happens at 1:15 pm, 2:15 pm, and 3:15 pm on Saturday.
- Evening Sessions (4 – 7 pm): Don’t miss an 18th-century music performance by the Guilford Courthouse Fife & Drum Corps, an additional cavalry demonstration, and special programs showing at the visitor’s center. Starting at 5:30 pm, “Lantern walks on the battlefield” will commence! Reservations for these walks are required by calling the visitor center (864-461-2828, extension 2) to secure limited space per tour time, and will open on January 10th. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight! Lantern walks depart every 10 minutes from behind the visitor’s center, starting at your ticket time (5:40 to 7 pm). The Visitor’s Center is open 9 am to 5 pm to secure your reservation, Wednesday through Sunday.
Second Day – January 18th, 2026:
- Morning Sessions (10 am – 11:45 am): On Sunday morning, look forward to a special presentation by Robert Ryals on “The Wartime Experiences of Reverend William Martin”, additional guided battlefield walks, and weapons firing demonstrations.
- Afternoon Sessions (12 – 3:15 pm, 5 pm): Stay tuned for another 18th-century musical performance by the Guilford Courthouse Fife & Drum Corps, more guided battlefield walks, and musket drilling with dummy guns at 1:15 pm and 2:15 pm.
We can’t wait to celebrate stepping back in time at Cowpens National Battlefield! For more information on battles and events, exhibits, and historical sites not to be missed, visit
https://discoversouthcarolina.com/revolutionary-war
or https://upcountrysc.com/explore/Historic+Sites
By: Sarah (Moore) Gross, Contributing Author