Events
Fort Indiantown Gap Open House
Saturday, June 6, 2026. Fort Indiantown Gap opens its gates to the public for a free, family-friendly day of live demonstrations, static displays, the 28th Infantry Division Band, food trucks, and more. PNGAS will be on site with free food and refreshments while supplies last.
Fort Indiantown Gap Open House
PNGAS will be there — stop by
The Pennsylvania National Guard Association will be on site throughout the day. Stop by our table to say hello, meet board members and staff, and learn more about the work the Association does for Pennsylvania's Soldiers, Airmen, and their families. We will be giving out free food and refreshments while supplies last, so come hungry.
Whether you are already a member, considering joining, or just want to put faces to names, we would love to see you. It is also a great chance to bring family members through who may not have spent time around the Guard community before.
About the Open House
Each year, Fort Indiantown Gap opens its gates to the public for a single day of static displays and live demonstrations from across the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and partner agencies. It is one of the most accessible ways for civilians, family members, and prospective recruits to see the Pennsylvania National Guard up close.
The day opens with a ceremony at 11:00 AM near the Community Club along Clement Avenue and closes at 3:00 PM. Gates open at 9:30 AM.
What you will see
A mix of live demonstrations, ground equipment, and family activities throughout the day.
- Black Hawk hoist demonstration
A UH-60 Black Hawk crew will demonstrate hoist operations — the same technique used in real-world medevac, search and rescue, and disaster response missions.
- Chinook sling-load operations
A CH-47 Chinook crew will demonstrate external sling-load operations — the heavy-lift capability the Pennsylvania Army National Guard uses to move equipment and supplies by air.
- Infantry squad maneuver
A live infantry squad maneuver — how a Pennsylvania Army National Guard squad moves, communicates, and executes a small-unit mission in the field.
- Helicopters, Howitzers, and tactical vehicles
Walk-around static displays of rotary-wing aircraft, artillery, and tactical vehicles from the Pennsylvania National Guard inventory, with crews on hand to answer questions.
- 28th Infantry Division Band
Live music from the 28th Infantry Division Band, one of the oldest bands in the Army National Guard.
- Combatives demonstration
A demonstration of the modern Army combatives program — the hand-to-hand training Soldiers and Airmen go through during initial entry and unit-level training.
- Food trucks and bounce houses
Food trucks on site for lunch and snacks, plus bounce houses and family-friendly activities to keep kids entertained between demonstrations.
- Meet Miss Pennsylvania
An opportunity to meet the current Miss Pennsylvania, who appears at the Open House in support of the Guard community.
The details
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026. Gates open at 9:30 AM. The opening ceremony begins at 11:00 AM and the event runs until 3:00 PM.
Where: Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA. The opening ceremony and main event activities are centered near the Community Club along Clement Avenue. Watch the FTIG and Pennsylvania National Guard channels for gate routing and parking instructions closer to the date.
Cost: Free and open to the public. No registration required, no tickets to buy.
Weather: Held rain or shine. Dress for the forecast and plan to do some walking — the grounds are large and the displays are spread across the installation.
Hosted by: The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania National Guard, with participation from partner agencies and supporting organizations including PNGAS.
Who should come
Everyone. The Open House is built for the public — Guard families, prospective recruits, retirees, community members, kids, and anyone curious about what the Pennsylvania National Guard does. Bring the neighbors, bring the in-laws, bring the youth group. There is no admission, no dress code, and no expectation other than to show up and enjoy the day.
Save the date — Saturday, June 6, 2026
Gates open 9:30 AM. Events run 11 AM to 3 PM at Fort Indiantown Gap. Free, family-friendly, rain or shine. Stop by the PNGAS table for free food and refreshments while supplies last.
