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Sunday, February 23, 2025

History Returns! The Civil War Celebration Takes Over the Town

Throughout the weekend, Main Street was constantly crowded, as hundreds of people came and went to Riverside Park, for The Last Stand, an event Farmville put on to celebrate Virginia’s 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

The weekend of events, that came to Farmville, Virginia, on March 28 and March 29, kicked off with a reenactment of The Battle of Sailor’s Creek with a tactile demonstration.

Bringing out hundreds of people from all different ages and schools, the event was also at the original site of the battle, right off of Sailor’s Creek road.

Spectators got to see men in classic Civil War uniforms, see guns being fired, men riding on horses, as well as interact with the reenactors and pet the horses after the demonstration concluded.

The Living History Village, really took its place in the mix of all the events. At The Living History Village, people who came and went from the event that took place at Riverside Park, got to talk to the reenactors, learn how to make Civil War tools, as well as got to tour through what a camp would be like during the war.

Also during the second day, there were High Bridge Trail tours, and event called The Skirmish at High Bridge, and the General Smyth Walking Tour. Later, General Lee and General Grant showed up at The Living History Village to interact with visitors.

Each visitor was able to get a free commemorative item, which was a map-covered, piece of paper, which soldiers had to get signed to pass at checkpoints and railroad stations.

All over the town, there were events that other tours and events that people who came to visit could participate in. Guided history tours, Confederate Cemetery interpretations, a Palm Sunday service at Riverside Park, and rifle and cannon demonstrations.

All the events for the weekend ended at dusk on Sunday, with the closing of The Living History Village.

The Last Stand sponsored by, The Heart of Your Virginia and Southside Electric Cooperative. Volunteers also contributed, by delivering water to reenactors, handing out maps to guests, as well as setting up and moving equipment.  

But, the events do not end this weekend. They will continue with the Virginia Historical Society’s Panel Exhibit that will run from now until Saturday, April 4th.