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Arts & Entertainment

150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Ball's Bluff

Witness Live Civil War history replayed 150 years and a day after the battle was originally fought, on the actual battlefield, in Loudoun, VA. Visit Loudoun, the destination management organization for Loudoun, Va., DC’s Wine Country®, invites the public to witness the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.  Brought to you by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and partners, the re-enactment will include approximately 1000 uniformed Civil War re-enactors representing both Union and Confederate sides, as well cannons, rifles and a jury of up to 3000 spectators. Come and witness the sights, sounds, smells and strategy of this famous and important battle, and get a true sense of how the battle played out.

The re-enactment will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. and tickets are still available online (www.150thballsbluff.com) for the spectator’s gallery.  Additional activities are planned around the re-enactment including drill demonstrations, the Civil War History Mobile traveling exhibit and an evening Battlefield Illumination.

The preparation for this important anniversary included the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Restoration Program, which returned the Battlefield to its appearance in October 1861 when the battle was fought there.  This allows visitors to experience the battlefield’s interpretation in an authentic way.  Hiking trails and interpretive signs aid in understanding this important and tragic part of American history, as well as educate both locals and visitors to Loudoun’s role in the war.  Visitors are invited to experience the re-enactment live and then return later to follow in the footsteps of history with a park guide or use a free self-guided audio tour that can be downloaded to mobile devices.

Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park is a critical battle site within The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, which contains more history than any other region in the nation.  The JTHG National Heritage Area serves as home to the single largest collection of Civil War battle sites in the nation.

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