History Comes Alive in Ohio – Reenactments
Take time this year to experience history. This summer hundreds of reenactors will take over area fields and beaches to share our history’s most brutal battles. These reenactments offer visitors a glimpse of the battlefields and camps. Visitors will get to view battles, see demonstrations, and learn about history.
ASHTABULA COUNTY (NE OH)
EARLY AMERICAN LIVE 1890 REENACTMENT
Dates: 2nd Saturday and Sunday in July
Time: Saturday 10AM-5PM | Sunday Noon – 5PM
Location: The Jefferson Depot Village, 147 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH
website
1890 becomes “ALIVE” as you enter the gates into the historic 19th Century Jefferson Depot Village at 147 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, Ohio. (Ashtabula County) Walk in your Ancestors Footsteps.
D-DAY Conneaut
Dates: August 15-17, 2024
Rain or shine.
Location: Conneaut, OH
For directions click here.
Once again D-Day Ohio, Inc. will invade the Lake Erie shores of Conneaut, Ohio, and stage the largest D-Day (1944) living history reenactment in the country. Featuring over reenactors from across the US and Canada, spectators will witness men, women, and their machines perform a living tribute to the veterans of WWII through dress, mock battles, and living history displays.
Since 1999, this annual recreation of the amphibious Allied landings upon the beaches of Normandy, France, has thrilled thousands of spectators. The event occurs within the beautifully kept grounds of Conneaut Township Park, Conneaut, Ohio, and assembles over 1,200 re-enactors from across the United States and Canada. Remarkably, the 250 yard long beach and sloping adjacent terrain closely resemble Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
For visitor information visit
Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau
ERIE COUNTY (NW OH)
HISTORIC LYME VILLAGE CIVIL WAR WEEKEND
Dates: July 13-14, 2024
Location: 5001 State Route 4, Bellevue, OH 44811
419.483-4949 | lymevillage.org
GEAUGA COUNTY (NE OH)
Century Village Civil War Encampment
Dates: May 25-26, 2024
Location: Century Village Museum
14653 E Park St., Burton, OH 44021
website
The 140th will be falling in to battalion formation with our comrades of Birney’s Division Civil War Reenactors this weekend at the Century Village Museum’s Civil War Encampment! Join us for some Civil War living history, demonstrations and a battle or two!
For visitor information visit
Destination Geauga.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (NE OH)
Ohio Valley Frontier Days
Dates: June 1-2, 2024
Location: Historic Fort Steuben
120 South Third St., Steubenville, Ohio 43952
oldfortsteuben.net
Every year Historic Fort Steuben – a reconstructed 18th century fort built on its original site overlooking the Ohio River – opens its mighty wooden gates for two special days to reenactors, demonstrators, musicians, storytellers, artists, crafters, and visitors of all ages for its family-friendly Festival. Within the picket walls, the soldiers set up camp and demonstrate the loading and shooting of muskets as well as the daily life of the enlisted men who inhabited the Fort in 1787. Surveyors replicate their tools and techniques for surveying the Ohio frontier.
BRIGADE RETURNS TO FORT STEUBEN
Dates: September 20-21, 2024
Location: Historic Fort Steuben, Steubenville, OH
oldfortsteuben.com
Two days of demonstrating 18th century life on the Ohio frontier will be held at Historic Fort Steuben by the Brigade of the American Revolution on September 20 and 21, 2024.
“This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the skills and crafts of those who settled this Ohio Country back in the 1700s, with a particular emphasis on the military,” explained Judy Bratten, Director of the reconstructed Fort Steuben and Visitor Center. “The reenactors of the Brigade are experts and encourage hands-on activities with visitors.”
The encampment will include stations where reenactors will give the history and demonstrate the skills involved in such things as medical care, cartridge rolling, table games, period tools, and military music. There will be clothing to try on and carding and spinning with student participation. Men representing both American and British soldiers will tell their stories, and a Native American perspective culture will also be presented. A musket demonstration emphasizing flint and steel technology and an artillery demonstration will top the event off with a bang!
“Thanks to a donation from the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio, we are able to offer free admission to local schools and homeschoolers who register for the Friday presentation. The public is invited to visit on Saturday at our regular admission fees,” Bratten noted. “Tours of the Fort, the First Federal Land Office, and the newly created Museum of Surveying are included.”
Historic Fort Steuben is open from 10am to 4pm and is located at 120 S. 3rd Street in Steubenville, Ohio. Admission is General, $12; Senior, $10; Youth 6-12, $7; Under 6, free. For more information call 740.283.1787.
OTTAWA COUNTY (NW OH)
Commemoration of the Battle of Lake Erie
Dates: September 6-8, 2024
Time: Saturday 11am – 4pm | Sunday 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Location: Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
website
All events are free, open to the public, and held at Perry’s Victory and international Peace Memorial unless otherwise noted.
Historic encampment with hands-on learning stations, music and historic weapon firings will be set up on the lawn.
Miller Ferry can get you to the Island. For more information click here.
PUTMAN COUNTY (NW OH)
FORT JENNINGS FORT FEST
Dates: August 16-18, 2024
Location: 100 East 1st Street, Fort Jennings, Ohio 45844
website
Free family fun and entertainment.
“Every third weekend in August, the rural community of Fort Jennings, Ohio swells from a population of 500 to several thousand people who gather to celebrate our military history and our veterans. This three day event features exhibits from all over the United States including the Vietnam era helicopters of the Huey 369 Organization.”
RICHLAND COUNTY (NE OH)
OHIO CIVIL WAR SHOW
Dates: May 4-5, 2024
Times: Saturday 9am-5pm | Sunday 9am-3pm
Location: Richland County Fairgrounds
750 N Home Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906
Admission
ohiocivilwarshow.com
SUMMIT COUNTY (NE OH)
Civil War Reenactment at Hale Farm & Village
Dates: August 10-11, 2024
Times: 10am-5pm
Location: Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Rd, Bath, OH
website
Experience the largest annual Civil War Reenactment in the state of Ohio. Relive one of the most significant events in our nation’s history through a reenacted battle, speeches by “President Lincoln,” cavalry mounted drills, artillery demonstrations, Camp Chase Fife and Drum Corps performances, and shopping on Sutler’s Row, alongside a thousand Civil War soldiers and civilians.
Pictured above: Union troops move into place to join the battle at Hale Farm & Village for 2018’s Civil War Reenactment August 11 & 12. Photo compliments of Nancy Balluck.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY (NE OH)
Revolution on the Tuscarawas Reenactment and Encampment
Date: July 13-14, 2024
Time: Saturday 10am-5pm | Sunday 10am-4pm
Location: Fort Laurens, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd NW, Bolivar, OH 44612
330.874.2059 | fortlaurensmuseum.org
18th Century Demonstrations include: Music, Artillery, Cooking, Medicine, Crown Forces, Colonial soldiers, kid’s games and activities, and so much more!
ZOAR CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT
Dates: September
Location: Zoar Village, Zoar, Ohio
330.874.2646 | website
WAYNE COUNTY (NE OH)
CIVIL WAR HISTORY DAY
Civil War encampment and reenactment at Mishler Mill.
Date: June 15, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 381 Main Street, Smithville, OH 44677
(330) 669-9308 | website
WOOD COUNTY (NW OH)
First Siege 1813
Date: May 25-26, 2024
Time: 9:30 am-5:00 pm
Location: Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
website
Brigade Napoleon – European Reenactment
Date: June 15-16, 2024
Time: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
website
At this Napoleonic Era encampment, visitors can experience Napoleonic camp life, weaponry, history, and more. Take special guided tours to learn more about the conflict the engulfed the world prior to and during the War of 1812.
The 60 years’ war for Ohio: American Revolution
Date: August 24-25, 2024
Location: Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
Admission: website
Pictured above: Fort Meigs Cannon credit to Fort Meigs Historic Site.
Photo credit to Elizabeth Raymond
