Activities Calendar

The Friends of Monterey Pass offer a wide range of activities throughout the year, both on their own behalf and in collaboration with others.  All these activities are shown below under the headings “Recurring Events” and “Special Events” (the chronological list of activities below the calendar). You can always download the master list of activities for reference at home. The master list and the website will always have the most current list of activities.

Summer 2025 Activities Note:

A great season is being planned for 2025. While the Museum officially opens on April 5th, the park and trails remain open year round. We’re still working on details of many events, but the broad schedule is already firming up. As details for each event are prepared, scroll down to see Recurring Activities and the chronological Special Events below.

We want to thank the thousands of you who are waiting patiently while we assembled all the pieces of the coming year’s activities. Check back periodically where you see material highlighted in red for updates and changes. The latest changes will always be posted here on the website.

We can arrange tours as our members are able to support. We have a 6-passenger golf cart for some of you who may need help getting up the hill, also by arrangement with available members. To contact us with these and other questions, email us at montereypassbattlefield@gmail.com.

We’re making progress fund raising. We’ve made arrangements to purchase the Toll House and several acres of adjoining land where the fiercest part of the Battle of Monterey Pass took place. We’re also making plans to put a barn back on the adjacent property as shown in historical pictures. If you can help, or know of others who share an interest in historical preservation and might want to participate, email us at montereypassbattlefield@gmail.com.

Preserving the historical significance of the park is what we do. To join the Friends or help with contributions, see our “Support for” or “Friends of” Monterey Pass” pages on this website. In the meantime, be well, be safe and enjoy our park.

Recurring Activities:

  • Board Meetings: Meetings of the Friends of Monterey Pass Board are held year round at the Museum on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm.
  • Monterey Pass Park Hours: The park is open to the public from dawn to dusk year round. Evening hour activities can be approved by the Chairman of the Board of Washington Township or his designated representative. The Pavilion must be scheduled through Washington Township. Contact information is located on our “Contact Us” page.
  • Museum Hours for 2025: Monterey Pass Museum will be open each Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, from April 5th to November 9th, 2025. A wide array of artifacts, stories, books and more are available each weekend. A great place to start or stop your exploration of the trails and scenic overlooks in the park.

Special Events (in Chronological Order):

  • Feb 3 – Jun 12:  Book Sale Collections:  Weekdays only.  Want to make space in your attic, garage or storage shed?  Got books, maps, videos or CDs you’d like to share with the world? On any weekday from Feb 3rd to Jun 12th, take your old books to “R. Lee Royer’s” office at 10764 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro PA, during their normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5 pm).  For more information on book drop-offs, or the book sale, call 717-762-5619, or email leeroyerassociates@comcast.net, or montereypassbattlefield@gmail.com.
  • Mar 28, 10am – 12am: Docent Training for the Museum’s 2026 Season  At the beginning of each season, new and old Museum Docents are provided an initial / refresher session at the museum.  They review sales procedures, forms for volunteer help and for donations, new exhibits, opening and closing procedures, 2025 events and future projects in and around the Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.  The Friends are always looking for more docents and other volunteers to help with summer activities. If you are interested, or know of others who enjoy sharing our local history with guests from throughout the nation, contact us at montereypassbattlefield@gmail.com.
  • Apr 11 – Nov 1: Museum is open for 2026 Season (Every Sat & Sun, 10am – 4pm)
  • May 1 – 16: (To be updated for 2026)  Buttonwood Nature Center, Home of the Institute will be hosting 5th Graders from the Waynesboro School District Starting Thursday, May 1st through Friday, May 16th.  Students will enjoy two programs, Monterey Peak Adventures and Civil War: Battle at Monterey Pass.  They will hike to the Monterey Peak observation deck and learn about forest ecology and the geologic features surrounding them. They will also get an overview of the Civil War as well as the battle that took place at midnight along the Mason-Dixon Line in July 1863. Students will tour the museum and experience hands on activities to learn about the everyday lives of the Civil War soldiers.
  • May 2: Living History Weekend with 6 cavalry and up to 32 infantry at museum! 
  • May 8 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  (To be updated for 2026)  Garden Talk #1 of 4: All About Herbs and How to Use Them Civil War Garden at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park, 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA. Free program. Presented by Penn State master gardener volunteer, Annette Spry. Learn about the wide variety of herbs you can grow successfully, including both perennial and annual herbs. We will talk about the needs and growing habits of each plant. Culinary herbs are easily used fresh or dried to enhance your meals. The talk will also cover simple harvesting methods as well as how to dry and preserve fresh herbs for use at later time. Free, but space is limited. Registration is preferred but not required. Register online at https://buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/event/garden-talk-1-spring-2025/. Hosted by Buttonwood Nature Center in partnership with Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Website link:  buttonwoodnaturecenter.org
  • May 15 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  (To be updated for 2026)  Garden Talk #2 of 4: Small Space Gardening . Civil War Garden at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park, 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA. Free program. Gardening expert Melissa Irwin presents an in-the-garden program about gardening in a smaller space. Productive gardens don’t always require a large yard. Learn how you can grow food, herbs and flowers for your family with only a small space. Whether you have a postage-stamp yard, a couple of raised beds, or just a sunny balcony, you might be surprised how much you can grow with just a little bit of soil and a lot of creativity! Irwin will explore vertical gardening, too. Free, but space is limited. Registration is preferred but not required. Register online at https://buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/event/garden-talk-2-spring-2025/ . Hosted by Buttonwood Nature Center in partnership with Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Website link: buttonwoodnaturecenter.org
  • May 22 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  (To be updated for 2026)  Garden Talk #3 of 4: Cooking with Herbs—What’s the Buzz? Civil War Garden at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park, 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA. Free program presented by Penn State master gardener volunteer, Annette Spry. This talk will focus on how to use a variety of herbs when cooking to enhance food flavors. Discover the uses of dried herbs vs. fresh herbs, and when each is preferred. Learn about how to prevent your herbs from “bolting.” Finally, we will talk about how herbs support pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects in the garden. Free, but space is limited. Registration is preferred but not required. Register online at https://buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/event/garden-talk-3-spring-2025/.  Hosted by Buttonwood Nature Center in partnership with Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Website link:  buttonwoodnaturecenter.org.
  • May 29 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  (To be updated for 2026)  Garden Talk #4 of 4: Garlic 101: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Civil War Garden at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park, 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA. Free program. Gardening expert Melissa Irwin presents an in-the-garden program. Not only is garlic delicious and nutritious, it is also incredibly easy to grow! Learn all the basics on how to grow your own garlic, from selecting varieties to making beautiful garlic braids that will last until your next harvest. Then, find out all of the many ways garlic can be used, including culinarily, medicinally, as a companion plant and as a natural pesticide. Free, but space is limited. Registration is preferred but not required. Register online at https://buttonwoodnaturecenter.org/event/garden-talk-4-spring-2025/.  Hosted by Buttonwood Nature Center in partnership with Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Website link:  buttonwoodnaturecenter.org.
  • Jun 27 – 28, Battlefield Diorama: A first time treat for the Battle of Monterey Pass.  Local history buff Steve Tanner built and will display a Monterey Pass Battlefield Diorama showing the geography and locations of forces deployed about the Monterey Pass battlefield in 1863. Steve will be available both days from 10 am – 4 pm to discuss the Diorama and its representation of events. Battlefield Guide John Galie will also be at the battlefield both days and will use the Diorama to prepare his tour groups for their experience on the trails (see below)
  • Jun 27: Complementing the Diorama will be Resident Battlefield Guide John Galie.  John will offer commentary on the diorama during on both days as a prelude to his trademark tours of the actual battlefield on Saturday at 11am and 2pm.
  • Jul 4 – 5: Living History Weekend encampment by the PA 17th Cavalry re-enactors    
  • Jul 19:   (To be updated for 2026) Blue Ridge Summit (BRS) Library Iced Cream Social and Book Sale (9am – 2pm) – at the BRS library.  The Iced Cream Social is a 48 Year tradition of the BRS library held the 3rd Saturday of July.  It helps to raise funds for the Building Board and includes a book sale, food, vendors music and children’s games.   The Friends of Monterey Pass are proud to lend support.  For more on this event, email brsmtnboard@gmail.com.     
  • Aug 1 – 2: Living History Weekend encampment by the PA 17th Cavalry re-enactors  
  • Aug 15: Civil War Relics Day (10 am – 4 pm): Relics are tangible links to events hundreds or thousands of years ago.  Collections of relics help us more fully understand those events by their locations, dating condition, and where they are found along lines of human development.  For all collectors, Civil War Relics Day is an open invitation to share your artifacts and relics of the Civil War with friends and neighbors at the Museum.  For more information, contact Steve Tanner at (717) 762-4903, or email tannersteve76@yahoo.com.
  • Oct 10 – 11: Living History Weekend encampment by the Sons of Union Veterans re-enactors
  • Nov 1st – Last day of the 2026 Season: The Museum will be open for the last time this year from 10 am – 4 pm.

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