Events July 20-21 to commemorate, explain 163rd Anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas

Two days of events this coming weekend July 20-21 at Manassas National Battlefield Park will commemorate the163rd Anniversary of the 1st Battle of Manassas. on Henry Hill at 6511 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109 (just beyond NVCC campus).

Event Details:
What: 163rd Anniversary of the 1st Battle of Manassas
When: July 20th, 2024 9:45am – 7:00pm,  July 21st, 2024 9:00am – 6:00pm
Where: 6511 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109
Who: Hosted by the Manassas National Battlefield Park, with special guests including the Manassas Battlefield Trust and living historians from the USMC Historical Company and the Liberty Rifles.

Background:
The 163rd Anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas will commemorate the first major land battle of the American Civil War that occurred on July 21, 1861.

The park events on Saturday, July 20, will focus on experiencing the battles through all five sensory experiences with programs and stations across Henry Hill including firing demonstrations, civil war field music, interactive tactile exhibits, kids crafts & junior ranger activities, cooking demonstrations, civil war food samples, and other living history programs throughout the park including at the Andrew Redman Blacksmith Shop.  Check out the “Into the Torrent” program at 1:30 p.m. with a combined and semi-immersive sensory experience.

On Sunday, July 21, check out a series of real-time tours led by U.S. park rangers throughout the battlefield of First Manassas 163 years later on the same ground where the battle was fought. These ranger-led programs will feature exclusive tours not regularly offered, according to Andrew J. Bentley, who is the Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services, at Manassas National Battlefield Park..

Bentley invited visitors to follow along the entire day with park rangers as they re-trace the entire battle from beginning to end. Jr. Ranger and kids activities and cannon firing demonstrations will also be occurring throughout the day on Sunday, Chief Ranger Bentley said.

Among the highlights of the weekend will be:
• Civil War Field Music Demonstrations
• Musket and Cannon Firing Demonstrations with Tactical Maneuvers
• Civil War camp cooking demonstrations and food samples
• Living historians in uniforms worn at First Manassas
• Blacksmithing demonstrations at the Andrew Redman Blacksmith Shop
• Historic Stone House open with Medical Displays & Scent Exhibit
• Ranger Led Walking Tours
• Kids activities & Junior Ranger Station

There will be excellent opportunities to collect imagery of park events and programs, according to Ranger Bentley,