“Redcoats & Rebels” at Sturbridge, 4-5 August

Old Sturbridge Village’s “Redcoats & Rebels” weekend is coming up on the weekend of 4-5 August. The museum village boasts:

See the largest military re-enactment in New England with approximately 800 soldiers portraying British, Irish, Spanish, Scottish, French and Colonial troops. The Village is transformed into a military camp from the time of the War for Independence, as it was known in early New England. Come see what it was really like for those who fought to win America's freedoms.

Daytime events include a mock battle each afternoon, cannon-firing demonstrations, fife and drum music, and marching and drilling demonstrations.

On Saturday, stay for special extended hours. The Village will be open until 8:00 p.m. for a special evening program, “Twilight Encampment,” when visitors can mingle with troops in their camps from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. There is no additional charge for the evening program.

Which of course means that regular village admission charges apply.

Old Sturbridge normally interprets New England rural life in the late 1830s, which makes the appearance of Revolutionary War redcoats as much of an anachronism as, say, World War 2 soldiers today. But the landscape offers a wonderful setting, and the turnout is excellent.

[Lee Wright’s photo of a past Redcoats & Rebels weekend comes via Flickr under a Creative Commons license.]