10/17/13 — Bentonville Battlefield to hold festival Saturday

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Bentonville Battlefield to hold festival Saturday

By Staff Reports
Published in News on October 17, 2013 1:46 PM

FOUR OAKS -- The rustle of leaves and the crackle of the open hearth will greet visitors to Bentonville Battlefield for the historic site's civilian living history program and fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The program will include demonstrations by costumed interpreters and a festival atmosphere that will offer wagon rides provided by End of the Drive Mule Farm, period carnival games, corn shucking contest, town ball and more.

Historic interpreters will demonstrate the daily life of women and children left home when their husbands, brothers and fathers went off to war.

Visitors can get a glimpse of their life as interpreters perform some of the daily tasks necessary for survival in the Civil War South. Demonstrations include open hearth cooking, sewing, knitting, and period children's games.

This year, visitors are encouraged to participate in a quilt contest to showcase their talent. Quilts will be judged the day of the festival. Wagon rides will cost $1 each, with children 5 and under riding for free. Also, a pumpkin patch will be set up by Odom Farming Co., with prices for pumpkins range from $5-$8. Local support organizations will be selling funnel cake and other baked goodies. All other activities are free. Everyone is invited to join in a game of town ball, a form of baseball that was played during the period.

The program will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Activities are subject to change without notice. For more information about the contest and activities, call 910-594-0789.