Featured Events

Fort Museum & Frontier Village

Gather at the Fort

Discover upcoming celebrations, community events, and regular gatherings in Fort Dodge.

Upcoming Events

A hearty bowl of chili on a rustic wooden table.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

44th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Public tasting: 12:30–3:00 PM
Location: Fort Museum

Good chili brings people together! Sample the competing chilis and celebrate a favorite community tradition.

$5 public tasting includes a sample cup to try all chilis. Winners announced at 3:00 PM.

Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards. Competitor entry: $25.

Presented by the Fort Dodge Chili Lovers Society & Connoisseur Media.

Glowing jack-o’-lanterns and a lantern beside autumn prairie grasses.

October 16–17 & 23–24, 2026

Haunted Village

Time: 7:00–10:00 PM each night
Location: Fort Museum & Frontier Village

Plan an October evening at the Haunted Village. Join us for four nights of Halloween fun at the Fort!

Admission details to be announced.

Pumpkins and glowing jack-o’-lanterns at sunset.

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Trunk or Treat

Celebrate Halloween with a community Trunk or Treat at the Fort Museum.

Time and event details to be announced.

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Almost Home Dart Tournament

Location: Opera House

Mark your calendar for the Almost Home Dart Tournament.

Public hours, entry fees, and registration details to be announced.

A vintage market arrangement with a woven basket, lace, greenery, and handcrafted items.

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Dickens of a Christmas

Location: Opera House

Welcome the holiday season with Dickens of a Christmas at the Fort.

Public hours and event details to be announced.

A vintage dartboard with green and brass darts.

Wednesday, November 25, 2026

Dart Turkey Shoot

Location: Opera House

Add the Dart Turkey Shoot to your Thanksgiving week plans.

Public hours, entry fees, and registration details to be announced.

Flowers, a woven basket, and handcrafted items on an oak table.

Saturday, March 13, 2027

Spring Has Sprung at the Fort

Location: Opera House

Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Fort Museum Opera House.

Public hours and event details to be announced.

A welcoming display of flowers, lace, and handmade wooden keepsakes.

Saturday, May 1, 2027

Bloomin’ Good May Day Show

Location: Opera House

Make plans for the Bloomin’ Good May Day Show at the Fort.

Public hours and event details to be announced.

A vintage green automobile, railroad tracks, and a wagon wheel in an Iowa prairie setting.

June 4–6, 2027 · Fort Dodge, Iowa

Frontier Days 2027

Legends of the Frontier: Rails, Trails, and Automobiles

Gather at the Fort Museum & Frontier Village for a weekend celebrating history, community, and Iowa’s frontier heritage.

Friday, June 4 5:00–11:00 PM
Opening Ceremony: 5:30 PM

Saturday, June 5 10:00 AM–11:00 PM
Parade: 10:00 AM

Sunday, June 6 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Frontier Days Parade: Saturday at 10:00 AM, downtown on Central Avenue in Fort Dodge.

Opera House Vendor Fair: June 4–6. Vendor fair hours will be announced separately.

More activities and the full weekend schedule coming soon.

Regular Gatherings

Every Monday & Thursday

Bingo

Location: Opera House

Make Bingo part of your weekly plans and enjoy an evening at the Fort.

Doors open: 5:30 PM
Early Birds: 6:30 PM
Regular Session: 7:15 PM

Leather dance boots and a green bandana on a wooden dance floor.

1st & 3rd Wednesdays

Jessi Sue Line Dancing

Location: Opera House

Join Jessi Sue for line dancing on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Time and participation details to be announced.

A cream exercise mat in a peaceful Iowa meadow.

Wednesdays · Scheduled through December 16, 2026

Tai Chi

Time: 12:45–2:15 PM
Location: Opera House

Join the weekly Tai Chi class at the Fort Museum Opera House.

Contact the museum for registration and class availability.

Meetings & Planning

An open notebook, brass pen, calendar sheet, and prairie flowers.

All meetings begin at 6:30 PM

Frontier Days Committee

Help plan Frontier Days 2027 and take part in bringing this community celebration to life.

Through March: Second Wednesday of each month.
April: Second and fourth Wednesdays.
May through Frontier Days: Every Wednesday.

For meeting locations or online joining details, contact the museum .

A notebook and calendar arranged for meeting planning.

Monthly Meeting

Board Meeting

Meeting Day: Fourth Tuesday of each month.
Start Time: 6:00 PM

For meeting location and attendance information, contact the museum .

Schedules are subject to change. Please confirm event details, admission, registration requirements, or meeting attendance with the Fort Museum before your visit.