Organizers say about 75 Civil War re-enactors, including soldiers and civilians, are expected for the event.
This year’s living history weekend will be held in conjunction with other activities during the annual Georgia Cities Week. The theme is “A Story to Tell,” and trivia about West Point and the fort will be broadcast on local radio stations leading up to the weekend.
Nanci Hendrix, organizer of the living history weekend and member of the Fort Tyler Association and Fort Tyler Living Historians, said the city used to hold an annual celebration, usually on April 16, the anniversary of the daylong battle, which occurred after the Civil War had ended because news of the South’s surrender had not reached West Point.
The event kicks off April 23, with the annual Fort Tyler fundraising dinner at the West Point Depot from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 a person, and David Ellis, a Civil War period fiddler, will entertain guests.
The Riverfest and Living History weekend kick off from 7 to 10 p.m. April 24 at Fort Tyler with a dance and social on the grounds of the fort. Those who attend can learn popular dances of the 19th century.
On April 25, Charter Garden Club will hold “Green Day” activities on West Eighth Street downtown. Those who take a cell phone to recycle can receive a free plant in return. Local growers will have demonstrations of “green gardening” and there will be activities for children. Downtown businesses also will be open during the weekend activities and the city’s ordinances will be relaxed for one night, allowing for outdoor dining.
Meanwhile, at the fort, living history demonstrations will go on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can see what camp life was like in 1865 and food, including hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue chicken will be for sale. Darin Meddors, a re-enactor and LaGrange resident will do charcoal drawings of re-enactors and visitors for a nominal fee all day Saturday at the fort.
The annual “Great Chattahoochee Duck Race” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The ducks will be put in the water at the bridge and arrive at their destination about 2 p.m.
While the ducks “race,” there will be other entertainment available downtown, including a Dixieland band, the Riverside Ramblers from Selma, Ala., which will precede the ducks and entertain from a pontoon boat. Auburn University’s men’s and women’s rowing teams will hold a competition on the river.
For the very brave, a crawfish boil also will be held during that time, with plates available for $10. Hamburgers and hot dogs also will be available for less adventurous eaters.
Events at Fort Tyler re-sume from 8 to 10 p.m. with a candle-lantern tour of the fort. Re-enactors and other participants will tell the story of the fort the night before the battle of West Point. The tour is free but those who want to attend were asked to reserve spots any time during the day. Tours start every 10 minutes.
At 10:30 p.m. at the fort, there will be a memorial service with a bagpiper and tolling bell.
Admission to all events at Fort Tyler is free.
Jennifer Shrader can be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.
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