HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Van Raalte Farm will be transformed this weekend as the Civil War Muster will take you back to the 1800’s.
This year admission is free all weekend. At 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, The Battle of the Cornfield at Antietam will be reenacted. “The Cornfield” is remembered as one of the Civil War’s most savage fighting sites. The event will also feature The Sunken Road, aka Bloody Lane where over 2600 Confederate soldiers lined the road to strengthen tiehr position and waited for the Union to advance. After hours of fightIng, the Sunken Road became Bloody Lane where neither side gained advantage.
Rick Veenhoven is one of the organizers of the Muster and says they are anticipating over 300 of both military and civilian reenactors to attend.
“We’ll have the Military Tavern which is a huge success. We’ll also have a field tent that is adorned with actual artifacts from the Civil War. This year are donor and sponsor is Founders Brewery and there will be four different types of brew to sample as well.”
Kids activities will include “period correct ” games with civilian women cooking pies over fires. Veenhoven says they will also have some topographical enhancements that is part of The Battle of Antietam. They have grown corn and done some excauvating to give a sense of some realism.
The event runs Saturday from 9-9:30 p.m. and Sunday 9-3:30 pm. Parking information is available online.