Step Back In Time For This South Dakota Frontier Christmas

There's nothing like an old-fashioned Christmas, and Fort Sisseton State Park hosts a simply charming 1860s festival every year. In 2017, the Frontier Christmas celebration takes place on December 9th. You'll find the park at 11907 434th Avenue in Lake City.

Fort Sisseton Historic State Park is simply magical in the winter.

The fort is a rich piece of South Dakota history. Founded in 1864, the fort was an army outpost in what was then the Wild West. Today, it's a 35-acre state park with 14 of its original buildings still standing.

The Frontier Christmas celebration shows visitors what Christmas would have been like for the lonely soldiers who were stationed here in the mid-to-late 1800s.

Frontier Christmas takes place Saturday, December 9th from 10 AM to 4 PM.

See demonstrations of 1800s-era tasks, such as blacksmithing, weaving, and more.

Make (and eat) some old-fashioned Christmas treats.

Take a sleigh ride around the park. There's nothing like the sound of real jingle bells while you're riding on a sleigh (it's actually as cool as the song makes it seem).

Before the days when you just went to the box store for garland, South Dakotans strung popcorn to hang on the tree. Try your hand at this quaint craft - and don't eat all the decorations.

It's not Christmas without some carols.

When the snow gets deep enough, you can rent a pair of snowshoes. Make plans to come back later in the winter; it's a great time to explore the park.

Regular winter hours at the park are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Have you attended the Frontier Christmas event in the past? Tell us about it!

For more great holiday fun, visit McCrory Gardens in Brookings for its Holiday Glow event.