Reenacting History

A Call to Arms Revolutionary War Weekend April 29 Mount Vernon, VA

George Washington’s Mount Vernon cordially serves as host while the reenactors camp on the same ground walked by Washington himself. Registration form can be found at the bottom of this page. For more information use the contact us form at the bottom of this page. This is a first come, first serve and participation is limited to 125 muskets and five guns.

245th Battle of Ridgefield April 29 – May 1 Ridgefield, CT

This event will consist of encampments for both sides, one at Ballard Park in Ridgefield and the other at Jesse Lee Church at the other end of Main St. Arrival and set up will begin Friday afternoon for those who wish and again on Saturday morning prior to event start time. Each camp will provide demonstrations for the public throughout the weekend.

2022 BAR School of Instruction May 14 New Windsor, NY

Brigade of the American Revolution will hold the Annual School of Instruction and its 60th Anniversary Celebraion. There will be activities, workshops, and informative lectures for top historians. .

Battle of Waters Farm June 3 Sutton, MA

The Battle of Waters Farm in Sutton, Massachusetts. There are 120 acres of land to play on. A barn to hold a tavern or dance in at night, a Sugar Shack, a Shingle Shack, a Blacksmith shop and a 1757 house all sit on the property. This event is hosted by the 13th Continentals and the 3rd MA.

Battle of Monmouth June 18 Manalapan, NJ

Reenact on the original Battlefield Site. Participation is limited to units who are members of the Continental Line, British Brigade or The Brigade of the American Revolution. For more info on events, visit

reenactorinfo.org

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the past? Historical reenactment might be just the hobby you’ve been looking for! To get started, there are a few things to consider, according to Kimberly Powell, an expert content creator for ThoughtCo and author of “How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting.” Here are a few of her suggestions:

Choose a Time Period and Location

What period of history most grabs your interest? Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? Do you have a passion for Ancient Rome, medieval fashion, or Colonial America, and the Salem Witch Trials?

Find a Reenactment Group

Time and place generally work together, so while you’re picking your time period, you will generally have a certain location in mind as well. Most people choose a reenactment group that operates fairly close to home - at least within a day’s drive. Reenactment groups and societies can be found all over the world, although they are especially active in the U.S., UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and Australia.

Choose a Persona

In a reenactment, a persona is a character and role that you choose to portray. Depending upon your reenactment scenario, this may be a real individual or a fictional one who could have lived during your time period of interest. The persona you select should have some personal significance to you.

Research Your Persona

Once you’ve chosen a time period and character, you need to learn everything you can, from the way they dressed and ate, to their manner of speech, cultural beliefs, and social interactions. Immerse yourself in the time period by reading books and primary source documents related to the area, and the type of person you’ve chosen to portray.

Assemble Your Kit

Reenactors refer to their clothing and equipment as their kit. Whether you’ve chosen to be a fur trapper, a soldier or a medieval princess, this clothing and accessories you select for your kit should match your persona.

Final Tips

Most reenactment groups have extra clothing, uniforms, costumes, and props that they are willing to loan to newcomers. By joining such a society, you’ll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit. Source: Powell, Kimberly. “How to Get Started With Historical Reenacting.” ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/getting-started-with-reenacting-1422852.