Blue & Gray Reunion in Philippi kicks off Thursday

This year will mark the 156th anniversary of the First Land Battle of the Civil War, as re-enactors, businesses, musicians, racers and more prepare and train for the weekend event that will transport Philippi and its citizens back to 1861.

“The Blue & Gray Reunion is a time to acknowledge Philippi’s unique place in the history of West Virginia and the country. The weekend full of activities is an open invitation to the community. Seeing the re-enactors in their period garb and visiting the camp sites of the re-enactors makes us stop and realize what happened in this part of the country in 1861 that impacted the formation of our country as we know it today,” Blue & Gray Reunion Committee volunteer Karen Larry said.

A variety of events will be featured all weekend, starting Thursday with the Traditional Crafts and Food Court at the courthouse square opening at 1 p.m. The Traditional Crafts and Food Court will be showcased on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday at noon.

The annual quilt show will be at The Market Place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, sponsored by The Eye of the Needle Quilt Guild, featuring a variety of handmade quilts and patterns by the local community.

An artillery demonstration will be offered at the covered bridge area at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Commanders meetings will be Saturday beginning 9:30 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.

The weekend will also feature camps open to the public, concerts at the gazebo and presentations.

The official opening ceremony will start will feature the Blue & Gray Community Choir at 6 p.m.

The Horse and Buggy Parade will follow at 6:30 p.m., a new event added this year. The event will start at the Route 119 side of the Philippi Covered Bridge and proceed through the 1852 Bridge, and from there the horses will prance south on Philippi Main Street. The Barbour County 4H Equestrian Team will sponsor the new event.

Registration for the talent show will begin at 4 p.m. at the courthouse gazebo. Round 1 of the Talent Show will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, ending the opening day’s events.

On Friday, events will kick off with the new Kid’s Day/Walking History, which is an opportunity for the general public of all ages to broaden their knowledge of the Civil War.

Presenters from 20-25 different learning stations, including the 1st Light Artillery of Ohio, will be set up with historians eager to inform visitors about the Civil War.

In taking part in the Walking History, participants will see the insides of both Union and Confederate camps of 1861, when the first land battle of the Civil War was fought. The event will also feature displays for women’s clothing, children’s toys and games, needlework, camp cooking, music, soldier and underground railroad quilts, a unique train display, a visit with an author and famous people of the time.

The re-enactors will highlight important moments in history that give Philippi the historical significance it has today.

Everyone is encouraged to spend time visiting with General Stonewall Jackson, a performance that is a part of History Alive!, a project of the West Virginia Humanities Foundation.

The Walking History visitors will be asked to register at sign-in locations, in the parking lot of The Market Place or in the parking lot of the Blue & Gray Park starting from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m.

From noon until 5 p.m., a variety of music will greet visitors, provided by local talent showcased at the Gazebo.

A new addition, the Pickin’ Porch, is located on the back corner of the Courthouse Square for anyone wanting to “sit and pick” under the canopy all weekend.

Registration for re-enactors will be at the courthouse square from 5 p.m.. until 11 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

On Friday the Reunions Grand Parade will start at 7:30 p.m., on Main Street beginning at Subway and proceeding toward the covered bridge. The parade will feature fire trucks, floats, twirling groups and other organizations from the surrounding areas, sponsored by the Philippi Volunteer Fire Department.

The McCartney Project will take the stage at 9 p.m. for the free concert located at the courthouse square. The Columbus/Ohio-based band pays tribute to the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings, led by Tony Burlingame. The public is asked to bring their own chairs to the concert.

Events will start on Saturday with the annual Chili Cook Off on Main Street, featuring local and surrounding competitors fighting for the 2017 win.

At 7:30 a.m., behind the courthouse square, registration for the 5K race will begin, with the gun sounding at 9 a.m. Runners will race to a new finish line, starting from College Hill through the Covered Bridge to the finish line on Main Street in front of the courthouse.

Camps will be open to the public again from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The Blue & Gray Tea will start at 10 a.m. at Adaland Mansion, featuring re-enactors in their Civil War attire against the backdrop of the 1870 era home. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to capture moments that tell the story of the bygone era. The public is invited to attend.

The Little Soldiers Battle will start at 10 a.m.. until 10:30 a.m., with registration that morning at 9:30 a.m. Ages 6-12 are encouraged to participate in the battle at the covered bridge area.

The Stonewall Jackson performance will visit Philippi at 10 a.m. in the third floor of the Barbour County Courthouse courtroom, providing historical context to attendees.

The new event, Rebels on the River Kayak and SUP Races, will be on the Tygart River at 10 a.m. with the meeting of the participants.

The races will start with the sound of a cannon at 11:30 a.m., and the kayak racers will paddle approximately three miles down the river to the designated turn-around spot, then paddle back to the covered bridge. The SUP board Paddlers will race down the river approximately three miles and then stop.

Tygart River Outfitters will sponsor the race, shuttling the SUP board racers back to the covered bridge after the competition. The winners of the races will be announced later that day at 4 p.m.

Historical courthouse tours will also be open to the public from 11:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m.

Spectators are welcome to attend the re-enactors skirmish at the covered bridge from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., and again from 10:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Saturday.

At 3 p.m., the Blue & Gray Community Choir will perform at the Philippi Baptist Church across from the courthouse. Spectators are encouraged to come early.

The Reunion will sponsor the annual pie contest for the third year. The Barbour County CEOS will conduct the contest, beginning at 4 p.m.. at the courthouse square gazebo.

The re-enactors dinner will be at Taj Moe Hall on Main Street at 5 p.m.

The night’s featured event, the Civil War Ball, will take place on Main Street at 7 p.m. featuring Civil War re-enactors as they dance to music of the era provided by the Laurel Mountain Ramblers of Elkins. Participants are encouraged to join in with re-enactors regardless of their talent or skill.

A free concert will be offered by Full Circle at 9 p.m., featuring classical country rock sponsored by Lil’ Moe’s. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs for the concert at the Gazebo.

On Sunday the trumpets will sound for Reveille at 8 a.m. starting the day of battle.

At 10 a.m., an 1800s-style church service will be offered at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

At 12:30 p.m., bluegrass music will be offered at the Gazebo as re-enactors prepare for battle.

At 2 p.m., the First Land Battle of the Civil War, known as the Philippi Races, will take place on Main Street.

After the battle re-enactment, there will be a re-enactment of the Hanger Amputation at Sutler Row on Main Street, featuring discussions of commonly used Civil War medical practices, a medical display including a federal doctor’s field fit, medical supplies, commonly used herbal remedies, photos and other medical artifacts.

The process of planning the Blue & Gray reunion weekend takes place throughout the year, thanks to the work of dedicated volunteers and citizens.

“The Reunion Committee remains excited about being able to continue a 28-year-old tradition of commemorating the First Land Battle of the Civil War while offering a weekend full of family friendly activities,” Larry stated. “We invite everyone to join us in Philippi for the 28th annual Blue & Gray Reunion.”

The Blue & Gray Committee would like to thank all of the businesses that have made the Blue & Gray reunion possible through their donations and support.

“Without the generosity of our area businesses, we would not be able to provide the weekend to the community,” Larry stated.

For questions pertaining to the event, schedules, registration, general information, or for more information on the Blue & Gray reunion, call 304-457-3700, visit http://www.blueandgrayreunion.org or visit the Blue and Gray Reunion Facebook page.

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