37th Annual Goliad Massacre Living History Program

Presidio La Bahia on March 25-26 will host the 37th Annual Goliad Massacre Living History Program.

On Saturday, the event will begin at 10 a.m. with a reenactment based loosely on the skirmishing between Texian and Mexican forces that took place leading up to the Texian departure from Presidio la Bahía, also known as Fort Defiance. Throughout the day on Saturday the reenactors go about their daily lives much as would have been done in 1836. At 1 p.m., a reenacted cavalry skirmish will be held outside Presidio la Bahía. The final battle of the day at 3 p.m. recreates the fighting that took place on Coleto Creek, about 8 miles east of Goliad (Fannin Battleground State Historic Site) and culminates with the Texian surrender and their march back into the fort as prisoners. On Saturday evening, there will be a candlelight tour highlighting known and imagined scenarios that took place during the weeklong imprisonment of the Texian soldiers.

On Sunday, events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a presentation given from a first-person perspective of one of the survivors of the infamous Goliad Massacre followed by a reenactment of the same near one of the reported original massacre sites. The day closes with a memorial for the fallen at the Fannin Monument just outside the walls of Presidio la Bahía.

Visitors are free to chat with the reenactors about the history of the Goliad Massacre and visit the museum, Our Lady of Loreto Chapel and the Presidio grounds.

Admission is $5 per person (6 and under are free) per day for the reenactment & the candlelight tour tickets are $3 per person. The event is outdoors so please plan accordingly.