159th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek

For over thirty years, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation has hosted an annual large-scale reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek to commemorate this critical moment during the last months of the American Civil War. On the third weekend of October, which often falls very close to the actual anniversary of this engagement, the reenactment is hosted alongside many other activities to remember the men that fought here and to recognize the community that this battle affected.

Complimented by educational programs such as presentations, displays, demonstrations, and the personal engagement of the reenactors with members of the public, this large-scale event offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and gain a new perspective in how this war, which ended nearly 160 years ago, shaped the world we live in today.

We hope you join us for this special weekend as history comes to life! During this two day event, reenactors recreate the last major battle in the Shenandoah Valley. See cavalry, artillery, and infantry soldiers in action and in camp. Battle scenarios, music, presentations, and medical, military, and civilian demonstrations are scheduled each day. Fundraising raffles, merchants, and food vendors onsite!

Public Ticket Information:
$15 – Single Day (16+) Adult
$13 – Youth 7-15 Single Day
$13 – Active military, Veteran, First Responder, Senior, and Home School/Student (16+) Discount
Children 6 and under are free!

Event Hours and Gate Openings
Saturday, October 21st – Gates Open 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Battle of Cedar Creek Reenactment, 2:00PM

Sunday, October 22nd – Gates Open 9:00AM to 2:00PM
Battle of Cedar Mountain Reenactment, 1:00PM

Event parking, all-day access to the military and living history camps, access to all demonstrations, event shuttle, and and all hourly programs are included in admission!

2023 Event Programs will be available at Admissions, the Information Tent, the Souvenir Table in the Symposium Tent, and at our Museum and Visitor Center for a $1 donation!

Far From Home: A Candlelight Tour of Camp Life
A special after hours tour that begins as the sun sets
(Saturday at 6:30PM)
$5 Candlelight Tour ticket required. Tickets available at the Information Tent!

(540) 869-2064
ccbf.us

Civil War Weekend

PLEASE NOTE: CIVIL WAR WEEKEND HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR AUGUST 2020 DUE TO CORONAVIRUS.

This special annual event that offers rare opportunities to see many sites as they may have looked at the time of the war.

This year, Civil War sites throughout the Winchester-Frederick-Clarke County area will once again join together to provide unique opportunities to experience the area’s remarkable wartime story. See details about last year’s event, below:

Schedule of Events

Download the Event Flyer 2019 (PDF)

Friday, August 16, 2019, 10am-4pm
Living History & Tours
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
The Company D, 2nd Maryland Infantry will be at Kernstown Battlefield all weekend. There will be living history demonstrations, battlefield tours, and the Pritchard House, museum, and gift shop will be open.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Friday, August 16, 2019, 10am-5pm
History Book Sale (Used Books)
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, 20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
A mammoth sale of used books and magazines, featuring primarily history-related titles. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s library and archives. (Sale runs Aug 3-18)
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Friday, August 16, 2019, 2pm
Battle of Cedar Creek Driving Tour
National Park Service Visitor Contact Station, (7712 Main Street, Middletown, VA 22645)
A two-hour guided tour, using a car-caravan system (visitors follow the ranger’s vehicle), covering the Battle of Cedar Creek in a chronological fashion.
Cost: Free
nps.gov/cebe

Friday, August 16, 2019, 6pm
History at Sunset – “Free at Last: The Complicated Road to Freedom for Emanuel Jackson”
Belle Grove Plantation, (336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA 22645)
This program will explore how one enslaved man, Emmanuel Jackson, Jr., from Belle Grove Plantation was purchased by his free black father, Emmanuel Jackson, Sr. from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and ultimately freed four years later.
Cost: Free
nps.gov/cebe

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 9am-Noon
Battle of Fisher’s Hill, Special Tour
National Park Service Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown, VA 22645)
This in-depth ranger led tour will examine the struggle for Fisher’s Hill, known as the “Gibraltar of theValley.” The program will be conducted using a car caravan system (follow the ranger’s vehicle) for this chronological tour across the Fisher’s Hill battlefield. Some walking involved.
Cost: Free
nps.gov/cebe

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 9:30-10:30am
Old Town Winchester Walking Tour – “Quite a Panic”: Winchester’s Civilians During the Civil War’s Bloodiest Year
Meet at Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
Join Prof. Jonathan Noyalas, director of Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute, to explore the ways Winchester’s demographically diverse population confronted, coped with, and navigated the complexities of life in war-torn Winchester during the war’s decisive year in the Shenandoah Valley.
Cost: Free
www.facebook.com/McCormickCivilWarInstitute

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 10am-Noon
“Hands-On History” Youth Event
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
Special Civil War youth event where youngsters will to take on different roles – from serving as a member of a cannon crew to a soldier telling his story with Civil War graffiti.
Cost: Free
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 10am-4pm
Living History & Tours
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
The Company D 2nd Maryland Infantry will be at Kernstown Battlefield all weekend. There will be living history demonstrations, battlefield tours, and the Pritchard House, museum and gift shop will be open.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 10am-5pm
History Book Sale (Used Books)
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
A mammoth sale of used books and magazines, featuring primarily history-related titles. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s library and archives. (Sale runs August 3-18)
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 11am
“The Journey to Becoming Stonewall”
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
Brian Daly, docent at Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters, will give an illustrated talk “The Journey to Becoming Stonewall”, a presentation on Stonewall Jackson’s life from birth to the trial of John Brown.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 11:30am and 2:30pm
“Battle of Cedar Creek in a Box”
Belle Grove Plantation lawn, (336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA 22645)
A 30 minute overview program on the Battle of Cedar Creek and its impact. This interactive program uses various props and the surrounding landscape features to “create” and explain the battle by literally placing visitors “in the middle of the battlefield.”
Cost: Free
nps.gov/cebe

Saturday, August 17, 2019, Program at 11am, Photography until 5pm
Wet Plate Photography
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
Harrington Traveling Photograph Artists will present a program on wet plate collodion photography, demonstrating the techniques used for Civil War-era photography, at 11am. Following the program, visitors will have the opportunity to have their photographs taken using this historic method (fee to purchase).
Cost: Free, fee to purchase photos
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, Noon-5pm
“A Soldier’s Life”: Living History
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun St, Winchester, VA 22601)
Living historians will be on the courthouse lawn in front of the museum, portraying a soldier’s life in camp and on the march, and recounting harrowing stories of fighting in the streets of Winchester.
Cost: Free
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 1pm
Blue-Grey Sweets: The Unexplored World of Civil War Sweets, (1861-1865)
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
We hear the stories of the heroes. The excitement and pain of the battles. But little is known about the role of sugars and sweets of the Civil War, those which the soldiers relished and relied on. Some were new, such as the peanut, others were traditional, such as the horehound candy, part of the American diet since the early settlers. Speaker Susan Benjamin is a candy historian and owner of the nation’s only historic candy stores, located in Harpers Ferry, WV, and Frederick, MD.
Cost: $5 (includes museum admission)
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 1-4pm
Battle of Cedar Creek, Special In-Depth Tour
Belle Grove Plantation, (336 Belle Grove Rd, Middletown, VA 22645)
This in-depth ranger led tour will examine the Battle of Cedar Creek, the climatic struggle of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The program will be conducted using a car caravan tour (follow the ranger’s vehicle) for this chronological tour across the Cedar Creek battlefield. Some walking involved.
Cost: Free
nps.gov/cebe

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 2pm
Civil War Archaeology Program: “United We Unveil, Divided We Bury: How Civil War Archaeologists and Relic Hunters Can Work Together”
Trinity Lutheran Church, (810 Fairfax Street, Stephens City, VA 22655)
Northern Shenandoah Archaeology Society President Mike Kehoe discusses how relic hunting can impact Civil War archaeology, including for the better.
Cost: Free
www.newtownhistorycenter.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 3pm
“To Gettysburg and Back”: The Bell Diary
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
Harry and Trish Ridgeway present the story of Confederate Private Robert Sherrard Bell as told through his diary entries, including his experiences at the Second Battle of Winchester and the Battle of Gettysburg. Bell was a member of the famous Bell Family of Winchester who lived in Linden Hill (the Bell House), and the uncle of Stewart Bell Jr., Mayor of Winchester from 1972-1980.
Cost: Free
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 4pm
“Linden Hill: The Bell House”: Guided Tour
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
Tour the Winchester landmark that was at the center of the town’s wartime and postwar story. The home includes Bell family furnishings and collections which have been passed down for generations, including the famous case clock that was stopped by the concussion of Union artillery fire during the Third Battle of Winchester.
Cost: Free
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 10am-4pm
Living History & Tours
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
The Company D 2nd Maryland Infantry will be at Kernstown Battlefield all weekend. There will be living history demonstrations, battlefield tours, and the Pritchard House, museum and gift shop will be open.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 11am
Artillery Program
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
Larry Turner will give a presentation on the artillery of the Battles of First and Second Kernstown, and Third Winchester.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, Noon-4pm
“Civil War vs. American Revolution”
Discover scientific changes between the American Revolution and the Civil War with first person interpretation and hands-on activities! Learn about a soldier’s life in each era with the Mosby Heritage Area Association, plus life on the homefront at historic Clermont farm.
Clermont Farm
801 E. Main Street, Berryville | FREE
www.mosbyheritagearea.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 1pm
“Civil War Tales of Old Winchester”
Kernstown Battlefield, (610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601)
Local historian Jerry Holsworth will give a presentation entitled “Civil War Tales of Old Winchester.” It will include interesting stories about Winchester’s unsung heroes and victims during the Civil War.
Cost: Free
www.kernstownbattle.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 1-5pm
History Book Sale (Used Books)
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum (20 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601)
A mammoth sale of used books and magazines, featuring primarily history-related titles. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s library and archives. (Sale runs Aug 3-18)
www.shenandoahatwar.org

Sunday, August 18, 2019, 2:30pm
“Battle of Cedar Creek in a Box”
Belle Grove Plantation lawn, (336 Belle Grove Rd, Middletown)
A 30 minute overview program on the Battle of Cedar Creek and its impact. This interactive program uses various props and the surrounding landscape features to “create” and explain the battle by literally placing visitors “in the middle of the battlefield.”
Cost: Free
www.nps.gov/cebe

More Information:
Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center
Open Sat. and Sun. 9am-5pm
Visitor Info & Civil War Orientation
(540) 542-1326

Second Battle of Kernstown Tour

The Kernstown Battlefield will host a walking and driving tour for the 158th Anniversary of the Second Battle of Kernstown, the last Confederate victory in the Valley. The tour will take you to key battle locations on and around the battlefield property.

Accomplished Civil War author Scott Patchan, known for his excellent books, Shenandoah Summer and Last Battle of Winchester, will lead this tour. Come and learn more about this battle that saw 1,200 Union soldiers become casualties while the Confederates under General Jubal A. Early lost only 200 men in what Virginia Sergeant John Worsham would call the “most easily won victory” of the war.

The tour will take place from 10:00 am – 2:00pm on Saturday, July 23, 2022, starting at the battlefield’s Artillery Building where Scott will provide an overview of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Bring a bag lunch, water, and dress for the weather. There is no fee for the tour, but we do recommend that you pre-register and donations are greatly appreciated.

The tour will focus on the strategies of Generals Early and George Crook for control of the Valley. Scott will explore how General Crook completely misread the situation and brought on a devastating defeat for the Union Army. You will also walk in the footsteps of a former U. S. Vice President, two future U. S. Presidents, and a Colonel who was the grandfather of a WWII hero.

The Kernstown Battlefield is located at 610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, Virginia 22602, located behind the Subaru dealership and next to Creekside Station on Valley Avenue. There is no entry fee for the Battlefield. As we are a 501(c)(3) all volunteer corporation, donations are graciously accepted.

Sign up for the tour here

Second Battle of Winchester 160th Anniversary Tour

The Kernstown Battlefield Association will commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Second Battle of Winchester, which occurred during June 13-15, 1863.

This battle was launched across the Pritchard Farm, extended into Winchester, and eventually to Stephenson where 4000 Union troops were taken prisoner. The success of this battle allowed Lee to bring the Army of Northern Virginia up from Fredericksburg, through Winchester, and into Maryland and Pennsylvania, culminating in the Battle at Gettysburg.

Join us on Sunday June 11th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for a tour of both our main campus property and on our newly acquired Sandy Ridge property. Led by KBA docents Mike Cannane, Chuck Maurer, and Larry Turner, the tour will begin with an overview, followed by five stops on the battlefield, where you’ll hear detailed descriptions and be able to view and walk on the terrain on which the initial engagements of this three-day battle occurred.

After the walking tour on our main campus property concludes, we will convoy in cars to Sandy Ridge to enable you to see our recent improvements in interpreting this historical property.

Please bring water bottles to hydrate and wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Golf cart rides will be available for those with mobility issues.

To register go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfT458IaNogtPPo0ZQgH6rbp1KhZy-JFULpjo1TC9i0_l-kA/viewform

 

1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign in a Box

Join a national park ranger at Kernstown Battlefield in Winchester for a 30 minute talk on the 1862 Civil War campaigns in the strategic Shenandoah Valley. Kernstown Battlefield Association, a nonprofit group, operates the historic battlefield. The battlefield is part of Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.

www.nps.gov/cebe

Guided Civil War Walking Tour of Stephens City

Civil War walking tours of historic Stephens City are conducted at 10:30 a.m. on the 4th Saturday of the month, beginning in June and ending in October. Tours are led by staff of the Newtown History Center. This tour focuses on the impact of the Civil War on the town. Learn about various civilian and military activities in and around Stephens City between 1861 and 1865.

Admission: $5/person (all ages 6+)

Reservations are required.

Please call the Newtown History Center at 540-869-1700.

Tours begin at the Newtown History Center, located at 5408 Main Street.

June 25th
July 23rd
August 27th
September 24th
October 22nd

North-South Skirmish Association: Fall National Competition

Period Firearms Competition

The N-SSA is the country’s oldest and largest Civil War shooting sports organization with over 3,200 individuals that make up its 200 member units. Each unit represents a Civil War regiment or unit and wears the uniform they wore 150 years ago.

Member units compete in live-fire matches with original or authentic reproduction Civil War period muskets, carbines, breech loading rifles, revolvers, mortars and cannons. It is the largest Civil War event of its kind in the United States.

N-SSA members come from all over the country to Fort Shenandoah each fall for this National Competition. Competitions, called “skirmishes”, where participating teams shoot at breakable targets in several timed events. The teams with the lowest cumulative times win medals or other awards. Women participate along with the men in all events. There are also competitions for authenticity of Civil War period dress, both military and civilian, as well as lectures on topics of interest.

Spectators are welcome and admission is free. There is a large sutler area and food service is available. For more information, visit the N-SSA web site at: www.n-ssa.org.

 

 

Second Battle of Kernstown Anniversary

On Wednesday, July 24th, the actual date of the Second Battle of Kernstown, the Battlefield will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.

KBA docents give tours of the Battlefield, the 1854 Pritchard House, the Museum and the Artillery Annex collections.

Free and open to the public.

kernstownbattle.org

Kids Civil War History Camp

Join the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, along with Company H, 13th Virginia, McNeill’s Rangers and McClanahan’s Battery. Activities include mustering into Civil War service for the day, infantry drill, cavalry drill, and an artillery demonstration. A “Grand Battle” will commence at 3:00 pm.

Parents welcome! For ages 8-14.

8437 Valley Pike. For more information, or to register, call (540) 869-2064, or see: www.ccbf.us.