By ALYSSA SCHAFER

It's pretty tough to schedule a lunch date with Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.

But, next week, you're in luck.

Custer has cleared his schedule and, on June 15, he'll host a lunch at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park as part of the annual Fort Lincoln Festival, which runs from June 14 to 17 in the park, which is located seven miles south of Mandan on Highway 1806.

The Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation is known for bringing history to life, but this year's festival is more lively than ever, Scott Larkin, the foundation's research specialist, said.

On June 14, the festival will open with the dedication of a Civilian Conservation Corps statue at 7 p.m. in front of the park's visitors center.

"The Worker" will be North Dakota's only CCC statue. Larkin expects more than 100 CCC alumni to attend the dedication ceremony.

In addition to eating lunch with Custer on June 15, kids can attend 17th infantry "tent talks," enlist as cavalry soldiers and learn to make cornhusk dolls.

From June 15-17 there will be activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cavalry Square and On-A-Slant Village.

On Cavalry Square, visitors can see infantry, cavalry and artillery demonstrations by the Frontier Army of the Dakota.

On-A-Slant Village will feature presentations by Mandan tribal members, hoop dancing and craft demonstrations by traditional American Indian artists.

On June 16, the foundation will sponsor its first Fort Lincoln Road Race, which will include five-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs, a kids run and a five-kilometer walk.

The road race will take place on the park's new five-mile hiking trail.

"It's very scenic," Larkin said. "There's a breathtaking panoramic view of the Heart and Missouri rivers."

Race registration begins at 7 a.m. at the commissary, and the first race begins at 8 a.m.

That night, Debi Rogers will perform Celtic music during a buffalo burger dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the visitor center grounds.

The Road Race awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an outdoor performance of the melodrama at 7:30 p.m.

On June 16 and 17, the Cowboy Action Shooters will be re-enacting gun fights on Cavalry Square.

Meanwhile, the first annual Fort Lincoln Arts and Crafts Bazaar, which features North Dakota vendors, will debut on the visitor center grounds.

Sunday, a live band will wrap up the weekend with an outdoor performance at 5:30 p.m. west of the visitors center.

Larkin expects more than 2,500 visitors to enter the park during the four-day festival.

"(The Festival) is an experience above and beyond any normal visit," Larkin said. "They go away with lasting memories and a really great experience out here."

North Dakota's oldest state park celebrates its centennial this summer, and the Fort Lincoln Festival is only one of many events the park has scheduled.

"We're looking forward to a fun, exciting year," assistant park manager Maureen Trnka said.

In July, the park will host an Old Fashioned Rootbeer Social, the Fort Abraham Lincoln History Symposium, a Frisbee golf tournament and a kite day.

For more information about the Fort Lincoln Festival and other events, call 667-6380 or visit www.fortlincoln.com.

(Reach reporter Alyssa Schafer at 250-8264 or alyssa.schafer@;bismarcktribune.com.)