FOR RELEASE: Centennial Village Museum plans to end its summer season with a bang. Civil War Weekend takes place Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, September 25, from noon to 5 p.m.
Costumed reenactors will have their tents set up on the southeastern corner of the 8-acre museum and will live as they would have during the Civil War—many using historic wares true to the time period. There will be battle re-enactments and marching drills and visitors can check out the encampment between battles.
“This event really lets the public see what an 1863 military encampment would have looked like,” says Curator of Historic Sites Scott Chartier. “The folks who do this type of thing live for it and they camp out entirely in character, their clothing and everything. Even when the museum is closed to the public, they will, for the most part, continue to camp just like they would have in 1863. They try to keep it as authentic as possible.”
He says that any drill or gun and cannon shot would be done just like it would have been done, with a small exception. “These guys use blanks and we do a weapons safety check prior to opening the museum at 10 a.m. We look at every shot that is going to happen. It’s basic safety stuff that happens during these types of events,” Says Chartier who actively participates in re-enactments throughout the region.
The event also features home tours, blacksmithing and print shop demonstrations.
This Sunday is also the final day for Centennial Village’s summer season. The museum is only open for two other events later this year—the annual Howl-O-Ween trick-or-treat on October 22 and 23 and Homesteader’s Holiday on December 3.
Admission to the museum is $18 for a family of five or $8 per adult, $6 per senior, and $5 per child. For more information about this and other City of Greeley Museums events, visit greeleymuseums.com or call 970-350-9220.
To see a video from last year’s event, visit https://youtu.be/R36LUurq2UY/.
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For more information, contact:
Scott Chartier, Curator of Historic Sites
970-350-9223
[email protected]