Bellefonte’s Civil War Weekend returns. Here’s a look at all the events

For the second year in a row, a weekend-long event commemorating the deadliest war in United States history is returning to Bellefonte, bringing a host of free activities with it.

Civil War Weekend in Bellefonte, which is organized and held by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association (BHCA), kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday. Eventgoers can enjoy activities like lectures, an encampment, reenactments, tours and more, spread all throughout the borough.

“The Civil War Weekend in Bellefonte will be three days of remembering and reflecting not just on our past, but on our future,” BHCA President Joseph Griffin wrote in an email to the Centre Daily Times. “There will be examinations of battles, campaigns and leaders, but also a consideration of the social, philosophical, and political ideas that led to the conflict.”

He added that visitors who pay attention to the many lectures will learn how the war “failed to resolve some of the issues that caused it,” and noted at the Centre County Commissioners’ April 21 meeting that many of today’s issues regarding polarizing political topics can be “traced right back” to the Civil War, or even earlier.

The festivities kick off at 1 p.m. Friday with a lecture from Bellefonte resident, historical researcher and writer Philip Ruth on how the fallout from the Harper’s Ferry raid impacted Centre County. Another lecture at 3 p.m. by Penn State meteorology professor Jon Nese will focus on the inclement weather experienced during the Gettysburg campaign.

Both presentations will be held at the American Philatelic Society, at 100 Match Factory Place.

Friday will wrap up with two separate events at 6 p.m. — a presentation from Penn State College of Education Professor Wilson Okello on Frederick Douglass’ “An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 120 W. Lamb St., and a tour of the historic Union Cemetery by local historian Chuck Young.

Griffin said at the commissioners’ meeting that Saturday will come with an “embarrassment” of activities, starting with the opening of the “Camp Songer” encampment on the Bellefonte Waterfront property from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., named after property owner and Civil War enthusiast Tom Songer.

The encampment will feature exhibitions of Civil War era money, period-accurate toys and games, a look at how war rations were cooked, a medical station with a replica 1860 army ambulance, an artillery-firing demonstration and more at 2 p.m.

It will also feature present-day reenactors of the original Independent Battery C, along with exhibitions on a cannon, artillery artifacts and equipment, army food and money. The station may be visited at all times during event hours, and visitors will be able to talk with battery members to learn about artillery used by both sides, the Battery’s Civil War history and fights from 1861 to 1865.

Also happening Saturday at the Philatelic Society is a “major” Civil War book sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and two educational tracks featuring four historical presentations each — a “bellum” track that focuses on the people, battles and other events that took place during the war, and an “antebellum” and “postbellum” track that focuses on the causes and consequences of the war.

Other Saturday events include a concert featuring Civil War-era music from 46th PA Regiment Band at 5 p.m. at the Talleyrand Park Gazebo, another Union Cemetery tour at 5:30 p.m. and a reenactment of Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech, which is to be carried out by local reenactor Michael Kinney at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

On Sunday, the Camp Songer encampment will reopen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an artillery demonstration scheduled for 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church Rev. Ruth Ferguson will hold an “Abrahamic Endorsement of Peace” service, or an interfaith service that will have Muslim, Jewish, Quaker and Episcopalian representation.

The festivities will wrap up at 3 p.m. Sunday with a final Union Cemetery tour.

“This year is bigger and better than last year, and hopefully, next year it’ll be bigger and better than it is this year,” Griffin said on April 21.

For a full schedule of the Civil War Weekend’s events, visit www.bellefontecivilwarweekend.org