HUNTINGTON BEACH
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
LIVING HISTORY.
Southern California's Largest Living History Event
The Huntington Beach Historical Society is proud to host the 31st annual Civil War Days Living History Event in Huntington Beach Central Park during the 160th anniversary of America's Civil War. Living history events like Civil War Days allow people to experience vivid recreations of life in our past in ways that would not otherwise be possible, and learn about some of the most important moments in our collective history. This event is facilitated by hundreds of dedicated volunteers portraying people from all walks of life, and as always, our events are free to the public. Come out to see this grand display this Labor Day Weekend!
Event FAQs
Tickets & Entry - Entry to our event is always absolutely FREE. If you'd like to contribute to helping us bring history to life please consider donating to the HB Historical Society. Time travel is expensive!
Students - Students are encouraged to attend and ask questions - below is a sample activity sheet - teachers are welcome to use and distribute.
Parking - Public parking is available at the HB Central Library and paid parking is available at the HB Sports Center. Participants are also welcome to park in our reenactor parking lot at the NW corner of Ellis & Goldenwest St. - there will be a shuttle running between this lot and the event. Shuttle times vary.
Food - Food will be available at the HB Historical Society tent in the main Sutler Area. Hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled corn, salads, snacks, water and soft drinks, &c.
Kids - This event is suitable for children of all ages. Pleased be advised there will be loud noises during our battle events.
Dogs - Due to the loud noise it is not recommended that you bring dogs to the event, however dogs are permitted in the HB Central Park.
How do I get involved? - if you'd like to volunteer with the HB Historical Society to support our event please email HBHistory@aol.com. If you'd like to get involved in living history and reenacting please scroll down to here.
SCHEDULE OF
EVENTS
UPDATED 1 May 2025
New programs on the United States Colored Troops & African American Service, Civil War logistics, Reconstruction, and Native American service, politics, and conflicts in the Civil War.
Locations
✶ Sutler Circle ⚔ Battlefield
*** Grant’s HQ + Quartermaster Depot
SATURDAY
10AM - EVENT OPENS
11AM BATTLEFIELD CONCERT ⚔
FT. THE RICHMOND HOWITZERS BAND
1115AM INFANTRY DRILL & TACTICS ⚔
11:30AM - NATIVE AMERICANS :NATIVE VOICES IN THE WAR ✶
NOON ENDING THE WAR: THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG ***
12:30PM –COLORED TROOPS: African American Life & Service in the War ✶
1PM – CITY POINT: LIFE AT HEADQUARTERS WITH GEN. GRANT ***
1:30 PM - FIRST BATTLE ⚔
1:30PM HISTORICAL WEAPONS DEMONSTRATION ⚔
2PM - PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS ✶
2:30PM– THE SURRENDER: LEE & GRANT AT APPOMATTOX
3PM – FAITH & UNION: A Conversation with Lincoln & Archbishop Hughes ✶
3:30PM – CIVIL WAR LOGISTICS +
4 PM - SECOND BATTLE ⚔
4:30PM –LINCOLN’S AMENDMENT: A PROPOSED ABOLITION OF SLAVERY ✶
5:30PM - TWILIGHT CONCERT - FT. THE ARMORY BAND ✶
SUNDAY
9AM - CHURCH SERVICES ⚔
930AM -BATTLEFIELD CONCERT -. FT. THE RICHMOND HOWITZERS BAND ⚔
10AM - NATIVE AMERICANS :NATIVE VOICES IN THE WAR ✶
1015AM INFANTRY DRILL & TACTICS ⚔
10:30AM – CIVIL WAR LOGISTICS +
11 AM - FIRST BATTLE ⚔
HISTORICAL WEAPONS DEMONSTRATION TO FOLLOW ⚔
11:30 AM –PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ✶
NOON – ENDING THE WAR: THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG ***
12:30PM – THE SURRENDER: LEE & GRANT AT APPOMATTOX
1PM – COLORED TROOPS: African American Life & Service in the War ✶
1:30PM – CITY POINT: LIFE AT HEADQUARTERS WITH GEN. GRANT ***
2 PM - SECOND BATTLE ⚔
230PM - PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS ✶
2:45PM – CALIFORNIA & THE CIVIL WAR ✶
A CIVIL WAR IN HB?
A Century Old Tradition of Education & Patriotism
Civil War Days was founded in 1993 by Maureen Rivers and Carl Clink in Bartlett Park behind the Newland House Museum in Huntington Beach. This first event hosted no more than thirty reenactors with a single cannon. Today Civil War Days has expanded to host historical reenactors from all over the United States, attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year.
The Huntington Beach Historical Society welcomes you to this glorious event that is always free to the public. Beginning in 1887, Huntington Beach hosted a number of annual Western region encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization of the Union veterans of the Civil War. At these encampments members met to reminisce about their service, promote veterans advocacy, and to teach people about the War, and the history of our country. Now we are proud continue Huntington Beach's tradition by promoting historical education and understanding in our community through Civil War Days and The Revolution.
Reenactor Updates
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Setup begins at Noon on Friday 29 August
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Reenactor Swap Meet - 9AM Sat (Sutler Circle Picnic Tables) Please be prepared to remove vehicles by 9:45AM.
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Camp Reservations - US/CS units should coordinate with their chain of command, individuals, civilians, and interested sutlers please email HBHistory@aol.com.
Reenactor Parking Pass 2024
Please display in vehicle dash for park dropoffs and for reenactor parking lot with your phone number in case your vehicle needs to be moved.
No overnight parking in Central Park.
Artillery trailers wait to park in designated parking lot until 4:30PM Friday.
Reenactor Registration
Participants may register on the day of the event at the HBHS Registration Booth located here, or pre-register via the below options. Pre-registered reenactors may pick up their registration cards at the Registration Booth and will receive two raffle tickets for the Reenactor Raffle held on Sunday after the second battle. All participants must register.
Please register only if you are currently a reenactor. If you are interested in joining please see recruitment information below.
REGISTRATION BY MAIL
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Mail the below signed release with the $5 fee to:
Rivers/HBHS
19651 Seawind Cir
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
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Please make checks payable to 'HBHS'
ONLINE REGISTRATION
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Scan the below release, sign, and email to HBCivilWarDays@gmail.com
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Send $5 via Paypal.com to HBCivilWarDays@gmail.com or via Zelle to the Huntington Beach Historical Society at HBHistory@aol.com.
TO ARMS!
Civil War Days hosts reenactors from all over the United States, each living historians with their own impressions of people whom lived 160 years ago. The vast majority of reenactors belong to individual units, portraying a particular infantry or cavalry company, or artillery battery. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Many of these units recruit members from the Southern California area - if you are interested in joining a reenacting unit please ask about joining a unit at the event or contact the email below.
For all inquiries please contact HBHistory@aol.com - your request will be forwarded through the appropriate channels. Please include your name, phone number, city, and your preference for the Union, the Confederacy, or something civilian.
Film & TV Inquiries
We can help! We get a lot of questions concerning historical productions for film, TV, etc. If you need assistance please feel free to contact us - we can definitely point you in the right direction. This includes historical and technical advisors, reenactor extras, and more for all historical eras.
Filming/photography is permitted at HB Civil War Days, however all professional media are requested to check in with the HB Historical Society. All media must remain behind safety barriers during the event.