From battle reenactments to puppet shows, the Andersonville Historic Fair has something for everyone.
By Taylor Foland
October 7th, and 8th will be quite a time to remember for the southeast. The Andersonville Historic Fair draws a crowd from across the region. On October 7th-th the town of Andersonville, Georgia will host the 41st annual fair which will be complete with hundreds of Civil War buffs who will be setting up camp sites, and will reenact two mock battles.
“Sutlers” will be there selling Civil War memorabilia, from guns, to swords, and Civil War period civilian clothing. Craftsmen and artisans will also be on-site. Quilt makers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, weavers, and other craftspeople will be all around the event.
The first mock battle will begin at 3 PM on Saturday Oct. 7th, and the second will begin on Sunday Oct. 8th at 2 PM. A parade in Andersonville on Main Street on Saturday at 11 AM will open the event.
There will also be musicians at the fair. All proceeds will be going into the preservation of the town’s historical artifacts and sites, and will go back into the historical preservation of the Drummer Boy Civil War Museum collection.
Andersonville, Georgia is a small quaint town in South-Central Georgia, known for its famous site, Andersonville Confederate Prison, also known as Camp Sumter, where many men actually died in.
The prison site is with the National Park Service, and is a registered national landmark. The original building is no longer standing, though the site houses the only National POW Museum in the country.
There is much to view in the town while you are there, we recommend you go to the Drummer Boy Civil War Museum.
The Drummer Boy Civil War collection houses original diaries, and weaponry from the time period. The collection also boasts Mary Surratt’s bonnet. Mary Surratt was the only person executed in connection to the assassination of President Lincoln.
You can also catch a glimpse of the historic Andersonville National Cemetery, on 760 POW Road. The cemetery is right across from the prison, so after your tour at the prison, you can explore those hallowed grounds.
According to www.exploregeorgia.org you can expect to enjoy quite a bit in Andersonville.
“Special entertainment include performances by The Southern Gunslingers, puppet shows, line dancing, clogging, bluegrass, jazz and country band performances, and gospel singing.”
Gates will be open at 10 AM on both days. The event is kid-friendly. Pets that are over 20 pounds are not allowed at the event.
Admission for adults is $4.00, and kids 12 and under get in for $1.50, for more information on this event call the information center here: 229-924-2558.
Taylor Foland is a Volunteer Coordinator for ACT For America, the nation’s largest grassroots national security group. ACT has over 750,000 members and 1,000 allied volunteers groups across America.
