Prince William County, Va. — Thousands of people attended this weekend’s Civil War reenactment outside Manassas, the centerpiece of an event that officials began planning two years ago.
“We had approximately 8,700 registered reenactors, 18,000 ticketed spectators, 700 guest spectators, 100 event staff personnel, 250 volunteers, and 300 media representatives at this landmark event,” said Executive Director of Discover Prince William & Manassas Anne Marie Maher. “This was a great event that illustrates the desirability of Prince William County as a unique tourist destination where people can come to experience America’s storied history.”
The event marked the 150th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and brought tourists from parts of the U.S. and Canada (an estimated 37,000 of them) to Prince William for a host of events that included guided history tours, baseball games and a ball that included dancing and period costumes.
Though record-setting high temperatures were an issue, as 248 people at the reenactment were treated for heat-related illness, officials say they planned for the worst and provided drinking water, cooling stations for reenactors and spectators, and air-conditioned medical tents.
“We had fire and rescue personnel, volunteers and veterinarians on site to treat any of the thousands of spectators and nearly 300 horses in case of illness or injury. We are truly grateful to the many volunteers and the units from surrounding jurisdictions that provided assistance.”
Officials also warned of potentially large traffic problems but police say they never materialized.
