Party Like It’s Your 250th Birthday

Saturday, June 14th 2025, the National Infantry Museum is hosting a massive birthday party for the Columbus and Fort Benning community! Join us to celebrate 250 years of the US Army and the first branch of the Army, the Infantry. Explore the museum as it springs to life with interactive Soldiers in all of the galleries. Catch a FREE movie or compete with your friends in the VR Center! From 10:00am- 4:00pm the family fun is nonstop.

Event Highlights

• Huey Rides from Inouye Field provided by Friends of Army Aviation. Tickets may be bought online in advance or in person provided availability. Click here for more information.
• Reenactors throughout the museum and WWII Street
• Free movies in the Giant Screen Theater
• Military vehicle display in the parking lot
• Civil War era cannon firings every hour
• The Maneuver Center of Excellence Rock Band performing throughout the day
• Annual Hotdog Eating Contest with Franks Alley with TWO time slots to compete
• Uniform try-on and photos for kids
• Bounce houses
• Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Gaming Trailer
• Food Truck Court
• Free kids activities
• Appearance by the Clingstones mascot, Fuzzy

Schedule

1000 Welcome/Cannon Firing/National Anthem  Main Entrance

1000 Free Movie: We Were Soldiers (R)                   Giant Screen Theater

1000-1100 MCOE Band                                               Rotunda Main Stage

1100 Cannon Firing                                                     Main Entrance

1100 Hot Dog Eating Contest                                    Courtyard

1130-1230 MCOE Band                                               Rotunda Main Stage

1200 Cannon Firing                                                     Main Entrance

1230 Silver Wings Jump                                              Inouye Field

1300 Cannon Firing                                                     Main Entrance

1300 Free Movie: SGT Stubby (G)                             Giant Screen Theater 

1400 Hot Dog Eating Contest                                    Courtyard

1400 Raffle Winner Announced/Cannon Firing     Main Entrance

1500 Cannon Firing                                                     Main Entrance

1500 Free Movie: Parachute Battalion (PG-13)      Giant Screen Theater

1700 MUSEUM CLOSES

Vendors include

•  Loaded Lemonadez
• Country’s BBQ
• Kona Ice of Pheonix City
• Jamaica Jerk Express
• Big Ma Food Truck
• German Food, Gifts & More LLC
• Frank’s Alley
• B&B Bar Tent
• Buddy Row Catering
• DonutNV

This one-day community event for US Army 250 will be held in lieu of our annual July 4th Freedomfest so make sure you are here! Freedomfest will be back in 2026.

US Army 250 at the National Infantry Museum

The museum has been recognizing historical anniversaries and pieces from the collection that relate to the 250th throughout the year with our Heritage Guides. New guides are released on a monthly basis and provide an in-depth look at our collection from a curator’s perspective. Stop by the museum for a hard copy or check them out online.