The JEB Stuart Birthplace Trust will hold the annual Civil War Encampment and Living History weekend on October 2-3, at Laurel Hill in Ararat, VA.
This will be both an educational and an entertaining event. The JEB Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust is an all-volunteer non-profit organization.
Civil War battles are to be reenacted on both Saturday and Sunday.
The event gets underway Saturday with a grand review, flag raising and special presentations.
The Birthplace Trust will sell gift items such as books, prints, mugs, T-shirts and much more. In addition, used Civil War books, and ladies Civil War dresses (homemade), parasols, bonnets, etc., will be for sale.
Music will be by the Cedar Ridge String Band, Fisher Peak Timber Rattlers and other performers to be announced.
Speakers will include Sam Winkler, with a program on Jefferson and Varina Davis; Wayne Jones – as William Alexander Stuart; Lucas Wilder – as JEB Stuart and David Chaltas as Robert E. Lee.
Authentic Civil War sutlers also will be on hand with food and merchandise. Sutlers and concessionaires, including Southern Traditions fried pies, old time blacksmith demonstrations by Daniel Young and Joe Allen, Patrick County Historical Society, Two SCV Camps, Charleston Tintypes, Possum Hollow clothing and quilts, Ararat Rescue Squad concessions, and authentic Southern Barbeque by All Sauced Up, Cast Iron Bones, Virginia Flaggers, Greg Newson, and others, will be onsite.
Special events include a Ladies Fashion Show and Tea by Joan Williams; Saturday night dance with caller Charles Bowman; Black Rose Memorial Service; Sunday morning church service at 10 a.m., and Stuart family members (to be announced).
Saturday night program will include music and dance by the Cedar Ridge String Band at 7:45 p.m.
Reenactment times are 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The event will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $8 per person, children 12 and under free. All proceeds go toward the preservation of the Laurel Hill.
Parking is free.
For more information about the event, call (276) 251-1833, visit www.jebstuart.org or email laurelhill@jebstuart.org.
The event is sponsored by the Patrick County Tourism office in Stuart. Out of town guests are encouraged to visit Patrick County and “Experience the Simple Life.” (Visit www.visitpatrickcounty.org.)