Visitors to the San Benito County Historical Park this weekend will have a chance to step back in time to the Civil War era at the annual Civil War Days on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event, put on by the National Civil War Association, features reenactors who will play Union and Confederate soldiers in three battles over the weekend, while others will fill the Historical Village with the everyday activities of townspeople from the era.
Admission is $5 per vehicle, plus $5 for parking.
“It’s just a really great opportunity to see the historical village active,” said Don Pidd, the caretaker of the park and a member of the San Benito County Historical Park. “All the historical buildings will be open and being used as if they were in that period.”
The highlight of the weekend events is often the battle scenes between the North and South. The battles are scheduled for 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. There will also be an army parade on Saturday and church services on Sunday at 2 p.m. Food will be available for sale, but families can also bring along their own picnic lunch.
This year’s event will feature abolitionist speeches throughout the day in the historical village. About 50 to 75 reenactors are expected to participate this year, Pidd said.
Some of those involved will arrive early so they can reenact the past for local school children. About 200 kids were scheduled to visit on field trips on Friday.
Pidd said it’s fun when the kids visit with their class on Friday and then bring their families back out on the weekend.
“It’s always a good turnout,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for a low-cost family excursion.”
