For most of the year, visitors walking around Old Sturbridge Village get a good sense of what it was like to live in New England in the late 18th through early 19th centuries, but for one weekend a year, they experience what it was like to be at war around that time.
Hundreds of reenactors and translators portraying soldiers and other figures, including more than 40 Revolutionary War reenacting groups, turned the living history museum into a revolutionary encampment Saturday as part of the museum’s annual Redcoats and Rebels interactive program, which continues Sunday.
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Old Sturbridge Village Revolutionary War reenactment camps
Visitors were encouraged to get in on the action, learning to march with soldiers, how to reveal a spy and what it took to fire a cannon. In addition to watching a battle reenactment, visitors also got a glimpse of the many the things it took to support the soldiers through the “daily necessities of cooking and baking, tending animals, making music and sleeping by campfire,” according to a press release.
“Redcoats and Rebels is one of our most popular and unforgettable events,” Jim Donahue, president and CEO of Old Sturbridge Village, said in the release. “With America250 fast approaching, we’re committed to making this year’s experience especially meaningful and thought-provoking. It’s a rare opportunity to step into a defining moment in our nation’s history and learn what life was like for those who risked everything in the fight for independence.”
America250 will be celebrated next July, when the United States commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Reenactors with The Lexington Minute Men were the host unit leading the Americans and His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot was the host leading the British.
“This is an event we look forward to participating in every year, and it’s a great time for families and history buffs who want to help in commemorating the legacy of our patriotic ancestors and see history come to life,” said Lexington Minute Men Captain Steve Cole.
Tickets range in price, with an adult non-museum member costing $32. Visit the site for more ticket information. The museum opens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
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