Civil War Heritage Weekend

St Albans celebrates its Civil War history with a full weekend of authentic displays and presentations. Civil War encampment in Taylor Park, featuring units portraying both the North and South. See unit maneuvers, firing and camp life demonstrations, artillery drills, and battle skirmishes.

150 years ago the small town of St. Albans, Vermont became site of the northern-most land action of the Civil War. Escaped Confederate prisoners disguised as being on holiday converged on the town with the intent of robbing banks to fund the South’s failing war effort. It’s a remarkable story – complete with international intrigue – and will be the center-point of this 4 day event. The event will feature an elaborate re-enactment of the raid; Civil War era military and civilian re-enactors recreating life in that time period; walking tours of the prime sites involved in the raid; St. Albans’ connection to the Underground Railroad; a quilt show and antique guns exhibit; Civil War era music and bluegrass music; and a grand review of re-enactors, officials dressed in Civil War attire and others during a parade around Taylor Park. Monthly lectures leading up to the weekend event are also planned.

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014

All day – Park set up
7 p.m. Lecture: St. Albans Raid, Howard Coffin (at museum)

Friday, Sept. 19, 2014

All day – Special menus at local restaurants
10 a.m. Guided Walking Tours (from museum)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Museum open
2 p.m. Guided Walking Tours (from museum)
2 p.m. Camp set up
7 p.m. Lecture: Vt. during Civil War, Howard Coffin (at museum)

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014

All day – Special menus at local restaurants
During day – Taylor Park entertainment
9 a.m. Camp open to public
9 to 10:30 a.m. Drill, maneuvers, artillery, cavalry
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Museum open
10 a.m. Guided Walking Tours (from museum)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Antique show (City Hall)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Quilt show (City Hall)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Character cutouts for photos in park
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Clara’s games (children’s activities)
10:30 – 11 a.m. Cadet Corps Drill
11 a.m. – noon 2nd South Carolina String Band performance
Noon – 12:30 Cooking demonstration
2 p.m. Raid re-enactment (park)
2:45 p.m. Heritage Grand Review (parade within park)
3 p.m. Ladies Tea (Smith Room in museum)
3:30 p.m. Walking Tours from museum
3 – 4 p.m. 2nd South Carolina String Band
6:30 p.m. Promenade (30 minutes at 3 restaurants)
8 p.m. Mayor’s Ball (costume ball in museum)
8 to 9 p.m. Candlelight tour (within re-enactor camps)

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014

8 a.m. St. Albans Raid Half-Marathon
All day – Special menus at restaurants
During day – Taylor Park entertainment
9 a.m. Camps to open to public
9 – 10:30 a.m. Drill, maneuvers, artillery, cavalry
10 a.m. Guided Walking Tours from museum
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Museum open
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Antique show (City Hall)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Quilt show (City Hall)
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Character cutouts for photos in park
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Clara’s Games (children’s activities)
11 a.m. – noon 2nd South Carolina String Band performance
1 p.m. Raid re-enactment (park)
1:30 p.m. Heritage Grand Review (parade within park)
2 p.m. Closing ceremony