How many reenactments can one town take, and in how short of time can they happen? I guess we are about to find out.
This weekend just outside of Gettysburg, on the site of the former Yingling farm and major reenactments of the past, they are having 'the March to Destiny" reenactment. Mid-week, on the Sheppard Farm south of town, they are reenacting the Cavalry Battle of Hanover. Also, throughout the week, Black Horse Tavern is having living history on site, the Confederates are taking and occupying the Shriver House in town, and various living histories such as the farbfest at the Wax Museum will be happening. The weekend of the 4th-6th of July will have the 145th anniversary reenactment, and the following weekend, near Frederick, MD, there will also be a reenactment.
Can you say, "Phew! That's a bunch!"?
Just who exactly are the event promoters counting on actually being there to both participate and also to watch? The cavalary fight will be good, the in-town living histories will get there share, and of course the 145th will get major turnouts. What about all the rest.
I don't know. It may just be my opinion, but I think that too much is being done, that the farbs will be out in full-force, and that this will be just another death-nail in an already dying hobby. Anyone else agree?
1 comment:
I don't know if I'd go as far to call it a "dying hobby" but no doubt halloween costume quality uniforms will be much in vogue next week at various venues around town.
I really dislike the big "mega" events, especially the ones that supposedly commemorate a battle anniversary since nothing they'll do will even remotely resemble the original battle they're supposedly reenacting.
But rather than "dying" I think the future of the hobby lies in the much smaller "for us by us" events hosted by the more authenticity minded groups. No bleachers and sound systems, no suttlers row, no food vendors every place you turn, just reenactors reliving a piece of the past for their own purposes. There's no money to be made there so you don't hear much about these events, but I think authentic reenacting will live on while perhaps the mega-farb-fests will die out (hey, with $4+ per gallon of gas it costs a small fortune to haul the wall tent, camp bed, tables, chairs, and coolers of snacks and beer that we all know every CW soldier took with him!)
On the other hand, if all this stuff is going on for the 145th anniversary, it boggles the mind to think about what might be in store for the 150th!
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