If you’re into history as much as I am, you’re probably already reaching for your calendar. This is something you won’t want to miss.
Columbus-Belmont State Park will host the 26th Annual Civil War Days Oct. 7-9.
The weekend will include battle re-enactments, history and museum tours, soldier camps, entertainment, food and more. Admission is free. 
This three-day event will begin on Friday, Oct. 7 with Education Day. There will be cannon and rifle demonstrations, life of a soldier and dance instruction. Students, scouts and groups are encouraged to participate, but everyone is invited to attend and take a closer look at history by taking a step back in time.
The opening ceremony will take place Friday evening with food and entertainment. Cannons will fire from the bluffs to end the ceremony and then there will be a ghost walk through the Confederate earthworks with lanterns lighting the way.
There will be events all day on Saturday with guest speakers and the Kentucky HistoryMobile will be on site.
The Civil War Ball on Saturday night will feature music and dance instruction. The band for the evening will be The 52nd Regimental String Band.
Shopping will be set up on “Sutler Row,” where there will be tents set up with clothing and accessories. There will be a Beautiful Belle and Handsome Gent contest before the dance and a Best Beard and Scraggly Beard contest during intermission.
Sunday will begin with a morning service as well as a memorial service in Columbus Cemetery.
The battle re-enactments will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They will feature guns firing, cannons blasting, horses running and tents burning.
The Civil War Days event is co-sponsored by Columbus-Belmont State Park, Civil War Days Committee and the Hickman County Judge Executive’s office/Hickman County Fiscal Court. The park is located in far western Kentucky at the junction of highways 58, 80, and 123. For more information, contact the park office at 270-677-2327 or email cindy.lynch@ky.gov or visit www.parks.ky.gov
