Gettysburg Tours, Annual Events and Travel Resources

A Gettysburg Visitors Guide Continued

By Rachel Cooper, About.com Guide

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There are many ways to enjoy visiting Gettysburg, but some of the best ways are to take a guided tour or attend a special event. Following are a variety of resources to help you plan a day that best suits your needs.

Bus Tours of the Gettysburg Battlefield

Gettysburg National Battlefield Park - The National Park Service offers 2.5 hour guided bus tours departing from the Gettysburg Visitor Center.
Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides – Take a ride with a Licensed Battlefield Guide through the Gettysburg Battlefield and stop at major points such as Little Round Top, Pickett’s Charge and Devil’s Den. Hire a guide to ride in your own car and customize a battlefield tour to meet your needs.
Historic Battlefield Bus Tours - Enjoy your Battlefield tour in a restored classic 1930's Yellowstone bus.
Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tours – Take a guided battlefield tour on a double decker bus.

Private Battlefield Tours in Your Own Car

Gettysburg National Battlefield Park - The National Park Service offers private car tours (a licensed guide will drive your car).
Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides – Hire a guide to ride in your own car and customize a battlefield tour to meet your needs.

Walking Tours of Gettysburg

Guided Historic Walking Tours – Learn about the town’s anxiety, struggle and heroism as the 2,400 residents were suddenly confronted with 170,000 soldiers. Hear stories of homes confiscated, families hiding in their basements and the massive cleanup effort that followed the Gettysburg battle.

Lincoln’s Lost Treasure - Explore historic Downtown Gettysburg during a LIVE two and a half hour interactive scavenger hunt. Aided by a few historical artifacts, you are sent off to piece together hidden clues that can unravel the location to treasury gold that has been lost for over a century. Encounter eccentric and engaging cast members, decode cryptic clues, and dodge FBI agents as you traverse the city’s famous streets, hidden shops and historical landmarks.

Segway Tours

Segway Tours of Gettysburg - Take a Segway personal transporter on a spin through the town of Gettysburg and join a Licensed Battlefield Guide for a unique experience. Along the way, you’ll learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, with rest stops at key locations on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Horseback Riding Tours of the Gettysburg Battlefield

National Riding Stables at Artillery Ridge Campground – Join the cavalry unit and tour the Gettysburg National Military Park by horseback.

Hickory Hollow Horse Farm – Enjoy a 1 to 4 hour scenic rides led by a professional Park Service historian.

Confederate Trails of Gettysburg – Take a 1 or 2 hour guided horseback tour of the battlefield.

Ghost Tours

Ghostly Images - With so much death that occurred in Gettysburg, the town is known to be one of the most haunted places in the country. Hear the stories of paranormal activity.
Farnsworth House Candlelight Ghost Walks Visit the most haunted B&B in Gettysburg and hear stories of the ghosts who live there. Take a walk through the haunted town and learn more.
Gettysburg Ghost Tours - Hear the stories of paranormal activity in Gettysburg.

Annual Events in Gettysburg

May
Apple Blossom Festival

June
Gettysburg Festival
Pennsylvania Lavender Festival
Gilbert & Sullivan Festival

July
Annual Civil War Reenactment
19th Century Baseball Festival

August
Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

September
Gettysburg Wine & Music Fest
Eisenhower WWII Weekend

October
National Apple Harvest Festival

November
Anniversary of Gettysburg Address

December
Holidays in Historic Gettysburg