Civil War Days coming to Lake Villa on Sept. 17 and 18

The Lake Villa Historical Society hosts the ninth annual Lake Villa Civil War Days event at Lehmann Mansion in Lake Villa.

Daily hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18. The mansion is at 485 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Admission is $5 per person, which includes parking.

Mansion tours are $5. A weekend pass is $10, which covers the cost of admission for two days and one mansion tour.

This year’s family friendly event will commemorate the beginning of the “American Civil War: 150th Anniversary 1861-2011” with a re-enactment of the Battle of Bull Run/First Manassas by Union and Confederate troops on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be Civil War medical demonstrations and home remedies by Dr. Trevor Steinbaach, Civil War-era games for children, shopping with food vendors and Civil War sutlers, a Boy Scout pancake breakfast on Sunday, and nondenominational church service.

This event is co-hosted by the village of Lake Villa and Army of the Cumberland.

For more information, visit lakevillahistory.org.

There will also be a formal reception dinner honoring President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln at the mansion on Sept. 17. The reception will also honor generals Grant, Lee, Custer and Thomas.

The president will be played by Max Dienels, and Mary Todd Lincoln will be played by Donna Daniels.

This fundraiser, which is sponsored by the Lake Villa Historical Society, has a limited number of tickets available at the Lake Villa Village Hall during regular business hours.

People are also able to buy tickets for the event online at lakevillahistory.org. The cost is $20 per person, and 1860s period formal dress or evening attire is requested.

Music will be provided by harpist Kari Gardner of Grayslake.

Guests with tickets will be received from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

In addition to a personal introduction and photograph with the Lincolns, guests will have a private showing of Ainsley Wonderling’s 1860s vintage clothing and a tour of Lehmann Mansion.

They can also enjoy desserts from the sweet table and a variety of beverages, including a cash bar.