advertisement

Explore Military History Fest Feb. 5-7

The Military History Fest will be noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Mega Center of Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles.

Cost at the door is $20 for a one-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass. Kids, age 15 and younger, are admitted free. Veterans are free on Friday. Tickets to the Reenactors Grand Ball on Saturday night are $10.

It is an indoor convention for military history buffs, re-enactors, collectors and cultural historians from all time periods, from the Roman Empire through the modern day.

For the first time, the fest is hosting an indoor Military Vehicle Rally/Heavy Weapons display. The show also features full indoor encampments, live music, educational seminars, hundreds of costumed re-enactors, hundreds of tables of original and reproduction military items, books, movies, music and more.

On Friday, the Sons of Temperance will perform songs from the 19th century from 3 to 3:34 p.m., followed by Barb Sorensen singing traditional German folk songs. At 8 p.m., there will be Historical Jeopardy, followed by open gaming.

On Saturday, the Battlefield Balladeers will perform Civil War music from 10 to 10:30 a.m., followed by Barb Sorenson's traditional German folk songs from 11 a.m. to noon and The Culver Pipes and Drums from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. The Sons of Temperance will perform the 19th century songs from 1:30 to 2 p.m., followed by Tim McDonald on Scottish/American fiddle from 3 to 4 p.m. Three Pints Gone will perform 18th- and 19th-century songs from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. On Sunday, the Battlefield Balladeers' Civil War music will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., with Barbara Sorensen from noon to 1 p.m. and Three Pints Gone from 1:15 to 2 p.m.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, there will be historical dance classes, including Elizabethan dance from 10 to 10:50 a.m., Colonial dance from 11 to 11:50 p.m., Civil War dance from noon to 12:50 p.m., Victorian dance from 1 to 1:50 p.m., and swing dance from 2 to 2:50 p.m. There will be a historical fashion show from 4 to 5 p.m.

On Saturday, GSM Bristol will present "How Weapons Work" from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. and "How Not to Die" from 4:15 to 5 p.m. There will be tomahawk instruction from 4 to 5 p.m.

Seminars on Saturday are: "Doing Doughboy 1916-17" and "Context and Character" from 10 to 10:45 a.m.; "What's Holding Up That Dress, Momma?" and "Historically Informed Performance: How to Research Early Music" from 11 to 11:45 a.m.; "Reflections on the Civil War" and "Historical Brewing" from noon to 12:45 p.m.; "Doing Doughboys Part 2: 1918-20" and "The Hollywood Betrayal of Spain" from 1 to 1:45 p.m.; "Pyrotechnics in Reenacting" from 2 to 2:45 p.m.; "The Soldiers' Aid Society of Springfield, Ill." from 2:15 to 3 p.m.; "Making the Man: Mid 19th-century Menswear and Accessories" from 3 to 3:45 p.m.; "Out of the Ashes: We Will Dance" from 3:15 to 4 p.m.; "A Visit with Jennie Wade's Mother" from 4 to 4:30 p.m.; and "Navigation in the Age of Exploration" from 4:15 to 5 p.m.

On Sunday, there will be a show-and-tell of "Firearms Through History" from noon to 1 p.m. and a first-person presentation about the role of General Ulysses Grant in the Civil War from 11 a.m. to noon.

Visit www.reenactorfest.com.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.