Living History Weekend 2026

Watch History Come Alive at the Museum of the American G.I.’s  "Living History Weekend" on March 21 & 22!   View Living History Displays, witness WWII Battle reenactments, and watch WWI Trench battles!  

This action-packed weekend has fun activities for the entire family! Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations and activities. You can view historic military vehicles up close or ride in a WWII tank or Vietnam Era M113 between the demonstrations! You can also start or end your day by browsing the militaria vendors to take home a small piece of history!

Get your ticket early!  The first 50 early bird ticket sales will be entered into a drawing to ride in a WWII tank!  The drawing will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 PM and winners will be notified by email.

If you do not want to rely on Lady Luck, the first four Tank ride times on Saturday and Sunday are available for pre-purchase beginning February 21, 2026.  All remaining ride times will be sold first come the day of the event!  

Gates open at 9:00 AM on both days. Saturday hours will be 10 AM – 4 PM, and Sunday hours will be 10 AM - 3 PM (last entrance 2 hours before closing). Come early and stay all day!  You will not want to miss anything. Food vendors will be on-site to make sure no one goes hungry! Free Parking at Santa's Wonderland's Blitzen lot! 

For more information, visit:  Living History Weekend

One Day Tickets: $26.50 Adults, $10.50 Kids (5-17), Under 5 free  (Credit Card/ Online)
Two-Day Tickets: $43 Adults, $19 Kids, Under 5 free (Credit Card/ Online)
Living History Weekend is a ‘Special Event day’; regular admission prices are not valid.
This is an outdoor event, and the museum building will not be open to the public during the Living History School Day (Friday) and Living History Weekend (Sat - Sun).

Schedule of Events (Times subject to change) 
WWI Battle Skirmish — Sat 11 AM & 2 PM, Sunday 11 AM
WWII ETO Battle Skirmishes - Sat Noon & 3 PM, Sunday 2 PM
WWII PTO USMC Advance - Sat 3 PM & Sunday 2 PM (the WWII ETO Battle Skirmish will follow)
History in Action - Vietnam Era - Sat 1 PM   & Sunday 12:30 PM
Narrated Living History Displays - All day long

Experience history from the turret of a WWII Tank, or a Vietnam era M113 APC! Whether you’re a World of Tanks fan, a history buff, a military geek, or anything in between, this is definitely one to mark off your bucket list.

You will either ride in a Sherman tank, M18 tank destroyer, Stuart tank or Chaffee tank. We cannot guarantee a ride in a specific tank.

There are 11 ride times on Saturday and 9 times on Sunday, with 2 tanks and 1 half-track or M113 running during each ride time! Each tank will hold three riders, and the half-track and M113 between 8-10 (depending on the group\’s composition). Tank, half-track and M113 rides in the first 4 ride times are available for pre-purchase. All other Tank rides are sold at the information tent on the day of the event.

Take a ride in a WWII tank**!
Visit the transportation station for the opportunity to ride in a WWII tank for two loops around the arena!
*$166/person. (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)
Pre-purchase for the first four ride times on Saturday and Sunday will be available from 10 AM February 22 through midnight March 22.

M4A1 & M4A3 Sherman

Take a ride in a WWII Half-Track**!
Visit the transportation station for the opportunity to ride in a WWII half-track for two loops around the arena!
*$26.50/person. (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)
Pre-purchase for the first four ride times on Saturday and Sunday will be available from 10 AM February 22 through midnight March 22.

M3A1 Halftrack

Take a ride in a Vietnam Era M113**!Shoot a WWI Cannon
Visit the transportation station for the opportunity to ride in a Vietnam Era M113 for two loops around the arena!
*$26.50/person. (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)
Pre-purchase for the first four ride times on Saturday and Sunday will be available from 10 AM February 22 through midnight March 22.

Activities for Purchase During the event!

Shoot a WWI Cannon
Feel the power of the museum’s WWI French 75 Cannon! Visit the artillery range to shoot off one blank, experiencing the force of this amazing piece of artillery. Tickets will be available for purchase only during the event at the information tent
*$43/round (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)

Shoot a Machine Gun (Gas-adapted, that is!)
Visit the artillery range to fire a paintball-adapted machine gun! Tickets are available only during the event at the information tent.
*$10.50/ 50 paintballs (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)

*NEW* Shoot a M1 Garand (blank fire)
Visitors 8 years and older are invited to visit the artillery range to fire one clip on an M1 Garand for only $21 (Tax deductible donation with proceeds to maintain the museum’s collection).

*Credit Card and advance purchase price ( A discount is available for tickets purchased on the day of the event with cash)

**Health & Safety Regulations for ride participants: Safety is our number one priority for anyone who rides in our vehicles. Tank Ride participants must be at least 7 years or older, with a minimum height of 52 in, and the ability to climb on and off the vehicle and in and out of the hatches unassisted. Tank Ride participants must have no underlying health conditions that would preclude riding in “off-road” conditions.  There is no age requirement for Half-Track rides except that participants must be able to remain seated (either by themselves or in a lap) during the ride. All Tank Ride and Half-track ride participants (or their legal guardian) must sign a hold-harmless agreement. The Museum of the American G.I. and its crew reserve the right to refuse any participant (tank ride or half-track ride) who they deem unfit or unsafe to themselves, other participants, or the crew. The ticket price will be refunded if the ride is canceled for safety reasons.

The Living History program and vehicles listed to take part are subject to health and safety, operational, weather, and mechanical considerations. The Museum of the American G.I. reserves the right to amend or modify the program or withdraw vehicles at any time without notification when reasonably required in accordance with its own best-practice procedures or those of exhibit owners. As with all historic machines, the appearance of any vehicle or tank in the arena display is subject to its mechanical reliability on the day.