Gettysburg Reenactment To Be Held At "Gettysburg" Movie Site

(6/29) Booming cannons, thundering hooves, shouted commands and the smell of campfires and black powder will fill the air southwest of Gettysburg on July 4th, 5th & 6th. This year’s civil war reenactment will be held just three miles from downtown Gettysburg, on the beautiful Yingling Farm, filming site for the civil war movie epic "Gettysburg." The reenactment site borders the western edge of Gettysburg National Military Park and overlooks the historic Sachs Mill Covered Bridge which was utilized by both armies. The site also offers a panoramic view of The Eisenhower Farm and The Roundtops.

This year’s reenactment will bring those dusty old history books back to life when reenactors converge at Gettysburg to reenact five major battles over the Independence Day weekend. The event will feature all-day Living History Demonstrations of the Civil War Period such as Camp Life, Civil War Music, Ladies Period Dress, Religion, Medicine, Signal Corp, Cooking and many other continuous interpretive demonstrations. There will be an active Living History Village and two Living History Activities Tents providing continuous educational and entertaining programs. Organizers always donate a portion of the event proceeds to local historic preservation and veterans causes. Last summer's event supported The Adams County Historical Society, Sachs Mill Covered Bridge, Land Conservancy of Adams County, The SGT MAC Wreath Project & Schmucker Hall Museum on Seminary Ridge.

This summer visitors and reenactors alike have the unique opportunity at the Gettysburg Civil War Reenactment to experience the same site where the majority of the Movie Gettysburg was filmed 20 years ago. The stone wall from the movie is still in place and reenactor registration takes place in the historic barn that was featured numerous times in the movie. Although some of the film's scenes such as Pickett's Charge, Little Roundtop and Devils Den were uniquely shot on the actual battlefield, the vast majority of combat and opposing fire sequences were filmed on set locations like the Yingling Farm three miles southwest of town. The Yingling Farm was Gettysburg's main filming location where over 13,000 volunteer reenactors paid their own way, provided their own props and uniforms and utilized historic battle tactics. The film has become an all-time high grosser in the home entertainment market, and has become a staple of classroom history lessons. It's TV premier on TNT in June 1994 garnered over 23 million viewers, a record for cable at the time.

The theme for this year’s Gettysburg Reenactment is "The Last Great Invasion" with exciting battles on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. First Day action on Friday includes Just In A Nick Of Time - McPherson Ridge that will bring infantry, cavalry and artillery into action. Friday also includes a Live Mortar Fire Completion at 1PM. Beginning at 8PM plan on attending the July 4 evening gala concert and fireworks presented by Gettysburg College at the Majestic Theater and on the college campus. On Saturday, Farnsworth Fatal Cavalry Charge and A Bloody Harvest - The Wheatfield, depicts these two epic actions on the eastern and southern ends of the battlefield. The reenactment concludes on Sunday with cavalry charging and countercharging during Sunday morning’s The Heroic Counter Attack battle, followed by a Cavalry Grand Review, and the extraordinary High Tide At The Angle - Pickett's Charge in the afternoon with impacting pyrotechnics and a large cannon barrage.

The 151st Gettysburg Anniversary Civil War Reenactment is an all-day family event. Gates open at 8:30AM each day. Tickets & Bleacher Seating are now on sale. Bleacher seating normally sells out prior to the event so order early. Ticket prices are higher at the gate. To order tickets or for additional ticket ordering information please contact E-tix support at supportetix.com or call E-tix support at 800-514-3849. You may also go to the reenactment website at www.gettysburgreenactment.com and click on Order Tickets. For specific reenactment event information you may call 717-338-1525 and for area and lodging information please call Destination Gettysburg at 717-337-5015.