Manassas to pull out the history stops with annual Civil War Weekend Aug. 21-23

The annual Manassas Civil War Weekend will be spread out over three days and nights, Aug. 21-23, at the Manassas Museum and at Liberia Plantation.

Attractions will range from military demonstrations to live music, to speakers and encampments, to a parade and children’s activities, to special exhibits to the highlight of the weekend, the commemoration of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s Raid on Manassas Junction in August 1862.

It all starts on Aug. 21, with this year’s keynote speaker, Al Stone, who has spent the past 20-plus years in character as Gen. Robert E. Lee, seeing an estimated 250,000 people over the span.

Also on that evening, there will be a Civil War dance and a walking tour of the Confederate Cemetery. The dance will be conducted at the Harris Pavilion and will be led by the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers with music from the Doug Marshall Band. Participants are encouraged to dress in period costume and learn all of the steps of the era.

The second day, Aug. 22,  begins with a parade of reeactors through the streets of Manassas, followed by talks from prominent authors and historians throughout the day.

Military units will be demonstrating the tactics used by different branches of the armies, including cavalry, infantry and artillery demonstrations.

As part of the infantry demonstration, children may participate and drill as Civil War soldiers. They can also try their hands at historic games and participate in interactive spy activities, moving from Union to Confederate camps to gather information and discover how it was utilized during the period.

For visitors who want to get out of the August heat, there will be plenty to do inside the museum at 9100 Prince William Street.

A new exhibit, “Partisans Among Playmates, American Childhood and the Civil War,” explores how children actively participated in the war and the social upheaval in the years that followed.

A second exhibit, New World Aristocracy: The Carters of Virginia,” examines how the Robert “King” Carter family built an empire in the 17th and 18 century Virginia.

Both exhibits will feature talks by the designers and the museum will also have an indoor exhibit of local artifacts.

The highlight of the weekend will be the commemoration of Jackson’s raid on Manassas Junction. Councilman Ken Elston will narrate the story of the raid during the reenacted torch-lit cavalry charge and mock railway car burning on the museum lawn.

Activities at Liberia Plantation include tours, period fashion show, period cooking, medical tents, blacksmithing and artillery and weapons demonstration.

On Sunday, an ice cream social and performance by the Manassas Symphony Orchestra will also take place at the Harris Pavilion.