History renewed

Museum Village’s 33rd annual Civil War re-enactment takes place this weekend in Monroe Monroe - Museum Village’s most popular event, the 33rd annual Civil War re-enactment, combines drama and history, intellectual pursuit with a passion for authenticity and accuracy. The event, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4 and 5, is sponsored by Frontier Communications. Re-enactors take over the museum grounds for the weekend, bringing history to life. Museum visitors get to witness living history on a grand scale as families prepare their meals and tend to the children, wash laundry and meet their other basic needs. The men, dressed in exacting reproduction uniforms of both Union and Confederate armies, drill for battle and happily stop to explain their arms, clothing, or 1860’s politics to passers-by who show an interest. Visitors get to stroll through the historic camps of the Union and Confederate soldiers asking questions about uniforms or weapons, lifestyle and their military units. The sutlers, merchants who followed the soldiers and provided goods, will have booths set up with 19th century-style merchandise for sale. The barn will be open to the public and kids can feed the chickens and goats including museum’s new four-month old doelings. The highlight of each day is the battle re-enactment taking place on the eastern slope of the museum grounds. Canons, artillery, men on horseback and soldiers dodging bullets and sniping from tree cover animate the hillside while onlookers relax in the shade of the trees enjoying their lunch.

If you go
The program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5.
Prices at the door: $15 for adults or $8 children, seniors, disabled or active military.
Reduced rate tickets ($10; $5) are available in advance online at MuseumVillage.org.