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America 250

2026 series of events in celebration of Independence Day and America’s 250th anniversary.

Fort Hood Celebrates

  • Oct 14: Single Soldiers Fest
    This is your day - come out and enjoy as we celebrate with tons of fun.
    Oct 14 2026, 10 am - 2 pm

    Fort Hood BOSS Program
    Free and Open to All Single Soldiers, Single Soldier Parents and Unaccompanied Soldiers

    • Team Building Competitions

    • Food Trucks

    • Music and Fun

    • Giveaways

    Phantom Warrior Stadium
    BLDG 50029

    +1 (254)287-6116

     

  • Oct 17: Scary Skele-Bration
    Join us for a thrilling, untimed night trail run—complete with scare zones, glowing lights, and fun for all skill levels—where the only thing racing is your heartbeat!

    Oct 17 2026, 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
    Open to All Ages
    No strollers on the course.

    Don't Forget Your Flashlight... or else.
    Get ready for a frightfully fun run where you never know what — or who — might be chasing you.

    No official times will be recorded. Keep an eye on the clock at the finish line to see how quickly you made it to safety while Ghosts, Goblins, Zombies, Witches and Skeletons chased you along the course.

    The run — or walk, at your own risk — is open to all skill levels. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a flashlight or glow sticks. Be on the lookout for scare zones and costumed characters throughout the course. You never know who might be waiting around the next turn.

    Activities For All

  • Corn holes, Witch ring toss, Giant Jenga, Chalk Garden, Sack Race, Face Painting Station, etc.
    Additional Fee Activities

  • 15-minute Paintball sessions
    $5 per person- Must be 12 years of age or up to participate.

  • Concessions will be available for purchase

Timeline

  • 5:30pm Carnival Style Games open to patrons

  • 5:30pm-6:25pm On-Site Registration for walk/run race.

  • 6:30pm START Scary Skele-Bration walk at your own risk race.

  • 6:30pm-8:30pm 15-minute mini paintball sessions. Must be 12 years and up to participate.

  • 7:30pm-9:30pm Haunted Cabin is open. Come inside if you dare!

Cost
Join us for $5 Per Person, 9 years and younger $3
Entrance fee includes access to the 5K run/walk race, carnival games and haunted house entry.

Registration Information
5K race on-site registration will be day of event
Oct. 17, 5:30pm- 6:25pm
---------
Must be in good physical health to participate in physical exercise. For questions related to health, consult your physician.

No age limit, all ages welcome, there are activities for any age group. To participate in the mini paintball sessions, you must be 12 years or older. Waivers are required to be completed before participating in the activity. 

 

  • Oct 24: Cowboys 4 Heroes: Bumpers and BBQ
    A day of FREE flavor, fun, and family!
    Oct 24 2026, 10:30 am - 2 pm

    OPEN TO ALL
    Get ready for a Texas-sized celebration as Cowboys 4 Heroes returns for its 7th year, serving up mouthwatering free BBQ for our service members.
  • Delicious BBQ cooked and served by Cowboys 4 Heroes.

  • Bumpers and BBQ Car Show featuring classic and custom rides.

  • Family-friendly activities and Arts & Crafts tents.

  • Local vendors plus food & beverage sales.

Phantom Warrior Center Grounds
BLDG 194 37th St
+1 (254)532-5481

 

Recently Celebrated

  • Sep 19: Fort Hood Oktoberfest
    We celebrated Oktoberfest with authentic food, live music, family-friendly activities, and festive fun for all ages at Fort Hood!

    5 pm - 9 pm, Sadowski Parade Field • Free & open to the public

    Celebrate the season with:

    • Family fun – face painting, rock wall, inflatables, and hands-on crafts

    • Traditional keg tapping to kick off the festivities

    • Authentic German-style food & beer to enjoy all day

    • Live music to keep the celebration going

    • Games & activities for all ages

    • The crowd-favorite stein-hoisting competition

    Bring your friends, bring your family, and join the community for a day filled with food, fun, and festive cheer.

  • Sept. 11: Fort Hood Fight Night
    Congratulations to all the boxers who slugged it out for all the glory in a Patriotic Pound-For-Pound Tribute event.

    Congratulations to the Fort Hood Fight Night qualifier winners:

  • Super Heavyweight — SGT Alex Brown
  • Middleweight — SPC James WebbWelterweight — PFC Quoc Le
  • Light Middleweight — SPC Isa Castaneda
  • Cruiserweight — PV2 Jeremiah Patton
  • Light Heavyweight — SGT Cameron Gross
  • Middleweight — SPC Trevant Thomas
  • Middleweight — SPC Adrian Jaime-Estrella

We experienced matches full of hits, misses and maybe a knockout. The show begins at 6 p.m. featuring 16 Fighters, 8 Bouts, and three 2-Minute rounds sure to impress.

  • August 21: Phantom Fury Fight Night
    Combatives Competition
    Congratulations to all the competitors. We experienced an adrenaline-filled night as 16 of Fort Hood's skilled Army fighters step into the cage to battle for bragging rights. we experienceds explosive strikes, intense grappling, and hard-fought submissions in a showcase of strength, skill, and determination.

Congratulations to the Phantom Fury winners:

  • Flyweight: Pfc. Omar Colon
  • Lightweight: Staff Sgt. Tajuan Johnson
  • Welterweight: Spc. Cole Wallen
  • Middleweight: Spc. Yashon Patman
  • Light heavyweight: Cpl. Jude Blake
  • Light heavyweight: Spc. Nicholas Salabaj
  • Light heavyweight: 1st Lt. Daniel Richter
  • Cruiserweight: Staff Sgt. Juan Ramos
  • July 18: Red, White and Bingo – In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Family and MWR is hosting a commemorative bingo event and catered meal beginning at 3 p.m. July 18 at the Community Events and Bingo Center. This event is open to 18 and up. Advance tickets are available through July 15.
     
  • June 26: III Armored Corps Fight Night 2026 


    Congratulations to all the competitiors
    Bliss vs. Hood!
    Thank you to everyone who joined us for the fourth installment of Fort Hood Fight Night. More than 3,000 members of the Fort Hood community came out to support these Soldiers as they stepped into the ring.

    Your support matters. By attending events like these, you help make future Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs and community events possible.

    • Super-Heavyweight:
      2LT Juarez 1st Cavalry Division (Ft. Hood)

    • Cruiserweight:
      PFC Garcia of 1st Armored Division (Fort Bliss)

    • Light-Middleweight:
      SPC Plummer of 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

    • Light-Heavyweight:
      PV2 Figueroa of 89th Military Police Brigade (Fort Hood)

    • Female Welterweight:
      PFC Tate of 1st Cavalry Division

    • Cruiserweight:
      SSG Stafford of 48th Chemical Brigade (Fort Hood)

    • Light-Heavyweight:
      SPC Jackson of 86th ESB (Fort Bliss)

    • Super-Heavyweight:
      PFC Colmenero of 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command (Fort Bliss)
       

  • July 2: III Armored Corps & Central Texas Freedom Ball 2026 – This formal military ball occurring from 5 – 11 p.m. July 2 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center commemorates the historical anniversaries of both the U.S. Army and the nation. The Freedom Ball is dedicated to honoring military heritage while strengthening the enduring partnership and mutual support between our Soldiers, their families, and the citizens of Central Texas.
     
  • July 2: Exchange 250th Celebration – The Army and Air Force Exchange Service will be at the Fort Hood main Exchange parking lot 3 – 6 p.m. with giveaways, samples, food trucks, vendors and more. The first 250 families will receive a free “swag bag.”
     
  • July 4: This year, on the Fourth of July, Fort Hood will be supporting not only Killeen’s Red, White & Blue Festival with the 1st Cavalry Division Jazz Band, but also other municipal Independence Day events throughout our neighboring communities.

including

  • July 3: Belton 4th of July Military Appreciation Night – the 1st Cavalry Division will provide a vocalist to sing the national anthem.
  • July 4: Belton Patriotic Program and 4th of July Parade – the 13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command will provide a senior leader to speak, a color guard to march in the parade, and static displays of military equipment during the associated festival.
  • July 4: Gatesville America 250th 4th of July Parade – the 120th Infantry Brigade will provide an officer and NCO to serve as the parade grand marshal.

 

July 10: Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band Mission Support Concert and Fireworks Spectacular – The III Armored Corps and Fort Hood will host Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band for a community concert, family activities, static displays, food and beverage sales and concluding with a fireworks display, beginning at 6 p.m. July 10 at Sadowski Field. This morale-building event is organized to demonstrate appreciation for the continued service and sacrifice of our military personnel and their families.

Keep Exploring

Single Soldiers Fest

Single Soldiers Fest

This is your day - come out and enjoy as we celebrate with tons of fun.

Oct 14 10 am - 2 pm
Children’s Halloween Bingo & Trunk-or-Treat

Children’s Halloween Bingo & Trunk-or-Treat

Bring out all those ghosts, goblins and ghouls to enjoy Family friendly bingo fun.

Oct 17 11 am
Scary Skele-Bration

Scary Skele-Bration

Join us for a thrilling, untimed night trail run—complete with scare zones, glowing lights, and fun for all skill levels—where the only thing racing is your heartbeat!

Oct 17 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Scary Skele-Bration

Join us for a thrilling, untimed night trail run—complete with scare zones, glowing lights, and fun for all skill levels—where the only thing racing is your heartbeat!

Oct 17 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Scary Skele-Bration
Enter to Win with Army ODR

Enter to Win with Army ODR

Adventure season runs June 1 – October 31, 2026—and every outing counts. Camp, paddle, hike, or jump into a new outdoor class for your chance to turn unforgettable moments into prize winning experiences.

Enter to Win with Army ODR

Adventure season runs June 1 – October 31, 2026—and every outing counts. Camp, paddle, hike, or jump into a new outdoor class for your chance to turn unforgettable moments into prize winning experiences.

Enter to Win with Army ODR

Boo Bash Bingo

Join us for Boo Bash Bingo — a spooktacular night of fun, prizes, and Halloween thrills you won’t want to miss!

Oct 31 6:30 pm - 10 pm
Boo Bash Bingo

Boo Bash Bingo

Join us for Boo Bash Bingo — a spooktacular night of fun, prizes, and Halloween thrills you won’t want to miss!

Oct 31 6:30 pm - 10 pm
Boo Bash Bingo

Army MWR Cares Presented by Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness

Stay resilient through every season with Family MWR. Discover MWR programs and services that keep you grounded and connected.

Army MWR Cares Presented by Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness

Army MWR Cares Presented by Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness

Stay resilient through every season with Family MWR. Discover MWR programs and services that keep you grounded and connected.

Army MWR Cares Presented by Army Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness

Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

Enjoy a range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders—right from the comfort of home. Register to watch live events, or catch up on past event recordings on-demand. Learn More.

Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series
Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

Enjoy a range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders—right from the comfort of home. Register to watch live events, or catch up on past event recordings on-demand. Learn More.