Bring the family to the World Fife and Drum Friendship Festival in Oswego on Labor Day! The event begins at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4 at Fort Ontario State Historic Site, 1 E. Fourth St., Oswego. Regular fort admission will be charged.

The Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps of Macedon, N.Y. will be joined by fife and drum groups from Belgium, France and Italy to march and perform on the parade grounds inside the old stone fort.

The program begins with an opening ceremony and joint performance by all four countries. Short individual performances will follow and the event wraps up when all four groups reunite for a grand finale at 2:30 p.m.

Between performances, audience members will have the opportunity to speak to the musicians and learn about this traditional art.

Event seating is not provided, and people are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Regular fort admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and free for children aged 12 and younger.

For more information about the event, contact Fort Ontario State Historic Site Manager Paul Lear at 315-343-4711 or paul.lear@parks.ny.gov.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more – which are all visited by 78 million people every year. 

For more information on any of these recreation areas visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NYS Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518-474-0456. Visitors can also connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

EXPLORE THE WORLD THIS LABOR DAY – Fort Ontario State Historic Site welcomes fife and drum groups from Belgium, France and Italy for the World Fife and Drum Friendship Festival on Monday, Sept. 4. Pictured are the The Fifres et Tambours de Saint-Tropez, France performing original music pieces.