City of Perryville’s reenactment celebration still on

Published 6:20 pm Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Downtown Perryville will be celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of Perryville this weekend, even though the commemoration has been canceled at the battlefield.

“We’re full steam ahead,” said Main Street Perryville Executive Director Vicki Goode.

Re-enactors will be “fighting” in the Chaplin River bed sometime Friday evening and at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Since the Chaplin River is nearly dry, the fighting will be a bit more realistic because conditions are similar to the weather that the soldiers endured in 1862, she said. Other skirmishes will also take place along the river banks throughout Saturday

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Plus, it will be a little safer place for them to shoot their guns and the city won’t have to block the street, she added.

Reenactors will also have living history camps set up at the Johnson Britton House, Elmwood Inn and the Karrick Parks House. Even though there is a burn ban in the county, Perryville Fire Chief Anthony Young will be inspecting every site to make sure a reliable water source was available, Goode said.

The schedule for the city of Perryville’s 157th Commemoration of the Battle of Perryville includes:

Friday, Oct. 4

9 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Vendors and food booths; Civil War living history camps

4 p.m. until dark — Kids Corner on Third Street. Cost is $10 for all day access to inflatables, pumpkin decorating, hay maze, games and corn treasure hunt

Saturday, Oct. 5

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Pancake breakfast at Perryville Baptist Church fellowship Hall, donations accepted for missions

9 a.m.-10 p.m. — Vendors and food booths; Civil War living history camps

10 a.m. — Parade, with long time resident, Jean Bottoms as grand marshal

11 a.m. — Picnic basket auction at gazebo in Baril Park

11 a.m. until dark — Kids Corner on Third Street. Cost is $10 for all day access to inflatables, pumpkin decorating, hay maze, games and corn treasure hunt

11 a.m.-5 p.m. — Perryville pageants at Perryville Jamboree, registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Noon-4 p.m. — Battleground car show to benefit the family of the late John and Amanda Bailey

2 p.m. — Reenactment at Chaplin River

Sunday, Oct. 6

Tour120 is a statewide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of history preservation and heritage tourism throughout Kentucky. In Perryville, the tour will be at 2 and 3 p.m. and are $20 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (859) 332-1862, or at the Johnson Britton House. The tour includes the Johnson Britton House, Karrick Parks House and bath house. Refreshments will be served at the Salted Honey Cafe following the tour.