Civil War Days to invade Billie Creek Village this weekend

The sounds of cannons and the yells of the cavalry will be on full display this weekend at Billie Creek Village for the annual Civil War Days event. 

The festivities will be held May 3 and May 4 and the weekend will feature battle reenactments, period demonstrations and something for everyone. On Saturday, the events will go from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday, the events will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Billie Creek Village, 65 Billie Creek Road, Rockville. 

Michelle Mundo, historic site director at Billie Creek Village, told The Parke County Post, Billie Creek has always hosted a Civil War Days event and she is looking forward to this year's event. 

"As of right now, we have about 370 reenactors coming, and these reenactors will be in full costume and integrated into the village and the grounds. We will have vendors that will have goods and items for purchase, and we have food vendors. As for Civil War Days, we will have a main battle at 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, and we will have lectures on a bunch of different subjects, and we will also have demonstrations from blacksmiths, spinning wool and a field hospital will be set up. We are going to have both Union and Confederate soldiers set up in their camps so you can see how soldiers lived during the war, how they sleep and eat and it is really cool to just immerse yourself in the experience there," Mundo told The Parke County Post. 

Admission is $10 for those ages 11 and older, $7 for children ages 6-10 and free for children under five. All proceeds will support the restoration of Billie Creek Village. Mundo said the event brings people from not only Parke County, but around the state and area to Billie Creek Village. 

"We try very hard to make it a price point that helps support the restoration of the village and helps support hosting this event, but is also an accessible price for all of our Parke County residents and all of those who are traveling here. We are really excited that we see quite a few visitors out of Indianapolis and Lafayette, as well as other surrounding cities," she said. 

Mundo said the event allows Billie Creek Village an opportunity to teach people just how much history there is in Parke County and how important of a role Parke County and Indiana played in U.S. history. 

"We are very excited to share some of that in a way that is fun and approachable to all ages," she said.