# An American Civil War Encampment — Picacho Peak State Park

> Event for families in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler area (AZ). Times are Arizona Time.

- When: Nov 21 – Nov 22 · 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Where: Picacho Peak State Park — Quail Group Area, 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ 85141
- Ages: Check age guidance
- Price: No event fee printed; park entrance: $10 per vehicle (1 person), $20 per vehicle (2-4 people), $5 individual/bicycle
- Organizer: Arizona State Parks & Trails — Picacho Peak State Park
- Official page: https://azstateparks.com/picacho
- Last checked: Tue, Oct 27

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/an-american-civil-war-encampment-picacho-peak-state-park--listing-4e74c51821c1cceed8f4ee85

## About

For one weekend in November, Picacho Peak State Park turns its Quail Group Area into a Civil War camp. Reenactors set up Union and Confederate camps and living-history displays, and visitors can walk through both and talk with the reenactors about what daily life was like for a Civil War soldier. Each day a ranger gives a talk on the Battle of Picacho Pass at 10:30 a.m., and a weapons demonstration follows at noon, so it is worth arriving by mid-morning to catch both. Calvin's Still Smokin BBQ food truck will be on site for lunch. The encampment is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, 2026, a day trip down I-10 for families with school-age children who are curious about history. The event page lists no separate fee; the park's vehicle entrance fee applies ($10 for a vehicle with one person, $20 for two to four people).

## Similar picks in Phoenix

- [Wildlife of the Sonoran Desert Guided Hike — Lost Dutchman State Park](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/wildlife-of-the-sonoran-desert-guided-hike-lost-dutchman-state-park--listing-3c865dedf6a148069e8a1978) — Fri, Nov 20 (+2 more dates) · 10:00 AM · Lost Dutchman State Park — Palo Verde Day Use Ramada, Apache Junction · Ages 8+ · With admission · checked Oct 27. Arizona State Parks volunteer Lisa leads a short wildlife walk at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, below the Superstition Mountains. The route is an easy one-mile…
- [Movies in the Park — Jackie Robinson Field, Litchfield Park](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/movies-in-the-park-jackie-robinson-field-litchfield-park--listing-29f7f5a01edfd46dd2151b58) — Sat, Nov 14 · Jackie Robinson Field, Litchfield Park · Free · checked Oct 16. Litchfield Park's free fall movie nights take place at the city's community ballpark, Jackie Robinson Field. Families bring blankets or chairs and settle in on the field for a…
- [Star Party at Lost Dutchman State Park](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/star-party-at-lost-dutchman-state-park--listing-a5e52b8034ecf05c4a895662) — Sat, Nov 14 (+2 more dates) · 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM · Lost Dutchman State Park — Cholla site, Apache Junction · From $10 · checked Oct 27. Once a month through the winter, volunteers from the Superstition Mountain Astronomical League set up their telescopes at Lost Dutchman State Park, at the foot of the…
- [Junior Ranger Guided Hike — Picacho Peak State Park](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/junior-ranger-guided-hike-picacho-peak-state-park--listing-1362268383f0079379596547) — Sun, Nov 15 (+3 more dates) · 10:00 AM · Picacho Peak State Park — Nature Loop trailhead (Harrington Loop parking lot) · Ages 5+ · checked Oct 27. Rangers at Picacho Peak State Park — the landmark peak beside Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson — lead a short Junior Ranger hike for children twice a month through the…
- [Railroad Park Holiday Lights — year conflict](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/railroad-park-holiday-lights-year-conflict--listing-05f2513f52d3c4a713d21241) — Nov 27 – Dec 30 · 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM · McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 28. Families ride the train and carousel through festive lights and seasonal displays in the railroad park.
- [PJs in the Park — The Polar Express](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/activities/pjs-in-the-park-the-polar-express--listing-3cc7e0a6fdf351bce129cf8d) — Sat, Nov 28 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Patriots Square at CityScape · All ages · Free · checked Oct 31. Free holiday movie night under the stars with Santa photos, a short screening of Shrek the Halls and the feature film The Polar Express; families should bring blankets or lawn…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in Pinal County, AZ](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/pinal-county-az) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/counties/pinal-county-az.md)
- [This weekend in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Phoenix](https://grassyknees.com/phoenix) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/phoenix.md)
