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.
Listing by dates and locations.
APRIL
Revolutionary War Encampment & Battle of Lexington & Concord Reenactment
Geauga County NE OH
Dates: April
Location: Century Village Museum
14653 East Park St., Burton, OH 44021
440.834.1492 | centuryvillagemuseum.org
MAY
OHIO CIVIL WAR SHOW
Richland County NE OH
Dates: May 2-3, 2026
Times: Saturday 9am-5pm | Sunday 9am-3pm
Location: Richland County Fairgrounds
750 N Home Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906
Admission
ohiocivilwarshow.com
Century Village Civil War Encampment
Geauga County NE OH
Dates: May 23-24, 2026
Location: Century Village Museum
14653 E Park St., Burton, OH 44021
website
First Siege 1813
Wood County NW OH
Date: May
Time: 9:30 am-5:00 pm
Location: Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
website
JUNE
Ohio Valley Frontier Days
Jefferson County NE OH
Dates: June
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.
CIVIL WAR HISTORY DAY
Civil War encampment and reenactment at Mishler Mill.
Date: June
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 381 Main Street, Smithville, OH 44677
(330) 669-9308 | website
JULY
EARLY AMERICAN LIVE 1890 REENACTMENT
Ashtabula County NE OH
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.
Revolution on the Tuscarawas Reenactment and Encampment
Date: July
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!
HISTORIC LYME VILLAGE CIVIL WAR WEEKEND
ERIE COUNTY (NW OH)
Dates: July
Location: 5001 State Route 4, Bellevue, OH 44811
419.483-4949 | lymevillage.org
Experience military life with Civil War soldiers. Walk through the camps and interact with soldiers from the North and South as they go about their daily activities. Observe cooking demonstrations, learn about what soldiers did in their spare time, including games and sports. Adults and children participate in Civil War drills with soldiers. Artillery and rifle firing demonstrations throughout the day.
AUGUST
Civil War Reenactment at Hale Farm & Village
Dates: August
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.
D-DAY Conneaut
Ashtabula County NE OH
Dates: August
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
The 60 years’ war for Ohio: American Revolution
Wood County NW OH
Date: August
Location: Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
Admission: website
FORT JENNINGS FORT FEST
Putnam County NW OH
Dates: August
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.”
SEPTEMBER
Commemoration of the Battle of Lake Erie
OTTAWA COUNTY (NW OH)
Dates: September
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.
HISTORIC ZOAR VILLAGE CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT
Dates: September
Times: Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 10am-4pm
Location: Historic Zoar Village
historiczoarvillage.com
OCTOBER
Brigade Napoleon – European Reenactment
Date: October
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.
Pictured above: Fort Meigs Cannon credit to Fort Meigs Historic Site.
Photo credit to Elizabeth Raymond