On July 26, 1865, Lt. Caspar Collins and four other soldiers were killed in the Battle of Platte Bridge. Later that same day, Sgt. Amos Custard and 20 of his men were killed in the Battle of Red Buttes, within sight of the fort.

At the July 25 Frontier Festival, one day shy of the 144th anniversary of that infamous day in central Wyoming history, the emphasis will be on fun - free family fun - from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of Fort Caspar, renamed in Collins' honor after his death.

"It will be a drop-in program with an organized schedule," said museum director Rick Young. "In other words, you don't have to stay all day, but there will be things happening all day."

Buffalo burgers and other items will be available for sale, so folks can stay for lunch.

In addition to the planned activities, no admission will be charged to enter the museum and fort buildings.

The festival will include performances by members of the Youth Chautauqua Camp. By June 25, the campers in grades five through eight will have learned about local and central Wyoming history, as well as worked with professional historians and performers to research a person in Wyoming history and write a script.

They'll act out their findings at the festival at 2 p.m., and be joined by experienced Chautauqua performers from 4:30 to 6 p.m., portraying Amelia Earhart and Calamity Jane.

Living history camps will be set up throughout the grounds, with pioneers, mountain men and soldiers around the restored fort buildings.

A craft fair with exclusively handmade items has drawn nearly 30 early registrants, according to Young.

The Frontier Festival will also serve as the official kickoff of the Junior Army Scout program, an educational endeavor that will offer youth the opportunity to learn history by using an activity book with an interactive scavenger hunt through the museum.

And it will also allow the formal introduction of 1st Sgt. Fremont Ferret, who was named last year in a school contest by Willard fourth-grader Makenna Bennett.

In her essay, she wrote that "Fremont is a history name and that is a good name."

"We'll be introducing him to the general public at the festival," Young said of the mascot. "Any time there is a museum endeavor with an educational component geared to kids, they'll see the first sergeant."

As festival-goers wander through the fort buildings, they'll see crossed-saber hats with "11" on them, symbolizing the 11th Ohio Cavalry that was stationed at the fort from 1862 until the summer of 1865, when the unit moved 50 miles east to establish Fort Fetterman.

They'll see black, knee-high boots next to the cot in the barracks, and they'll see red long underwear hanging on the line to dry.

It's stepping back in time, as if the 11th Ohio Cavalry was just there.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog.

If you go:

What: Fort Caspar Frontier Festival, 4001 Fort Caspar Rd.

When: Saturday, July 25; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Why: Family fun with day-long activities and free admission to museum and fort grounds.

10 a.m. to noon: Junior Army Scout kickoff

1 p.m.: Wyoming Fiddlers Association

2 p.m.: Youth Chautauqua performances

3:30 p.m.: Wyoming Fiddlers Association

4:30 to 6 p.m.: Chautauqua performances - Amelia Earhart and Calamity Jane

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Living history demonstrations, games, kids' activities and craft fair

Info: 235-8462 or www.fortcasparwyoming.com