Encampment

marlob@herald-mail.com SMITHSBURG - While focusing on a future in forestry, Jared Weicht remains firmly rooted in the past as he prepares to take his love of Civil War re-enacting to a new level. In time for Smithsburg Pride Days on July 17-18, Weicht has organized a revival of a Civil War weekend encampment and a re-enactment of a Civil War battle. Weicht, 19, has been involved in re-enacting for about 10 years. "A family friend, Dennis Easterday, got me started and I really enjoy it," Weicht said.

The Maryland Park Service and the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park will host the 12th Annual 18th-Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick State Park from April 27 to 30. Admission costs $4 per person; ages 6 and younger are admitted free. Times for the Market Fair are: Thursday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to Fort Frederick State Park will meet more than 150 artisans, craftspeople and vendors who sell reproductions of 18th-century items, including furniture, clothing, guns, powder horns and hunting bags.

1. Soldiers on both sides Scott Hipp will discuss the regimental histories of units organized in the Washington County area and serving in either Confederate or Union armies. Hipp is the author of “Old Line Divided: Maryland in the Civil War: Volume I: Antebellum to 1862. 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Call 301-432-5723 or email bns@washcolibrary.org . 2. Battle of Shiloh Civil War re-enactment featuring the Battle of Shiloh.

BIG POOL - The Maryland Park Service and the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park will host the 13th annual 18th Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick State Park later this month. Admission costs $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 7 to 12. Children ages 6 and younger are admitted free. Times for the Market Fair are: · Thursday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Friday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Sunday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to the fort will meet more than 150 artisans, craftspeople and vendors who sell reproductions of 18th century items, including furniture, clothing, guns, powder horns and hunting bags.

Another market fair will be held this weekend in the Tri-State area. The Great North American Rendezvous Spring Market Faire & Rifle Frolic runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Saturday, April 23, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Gobbler Knob in Newville, Pa. Saturday's events include performances by the Fife & Drum Corps of York (Pa.) Middle School and talks by historians and authors Shirley Fenstermacher ("People Who Lived in Franklin County in the 17th Century")

marlob@herald-mail.com WILLIAMSPORT While the rainy weather may have kept some visitors away from the 28th annual C&O Canal Days Saturday, there still were very few open parking places along Potomac Street. On both sides of the street and throughout Byron Memorial Park, crowds of people were walking around, sampling food and enjoying the craft vendors, all in between the occasional raindrops. "We have never been here before and it's great," said Dave Lindecamp of Greencastle, Pa., who was visiting C&O Canal Days with his wife, Evelyn, and his two nephews, Joe and Jon Cornett, ages 2 and 11 months, respectively.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Asked about his connection to Civil War Gen. George Meade, Andy Waskie responds quickly and gets a few laughs from those gathered around him. "What? I'm not Meade?" he quips. Sometimes it was difficult to make the distinction. Waskie, a professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, donned full uniform and often spoke from the first-person point of view during his presentation Thursday at the Heritage Center in Chambersburg. For almost two hours, Waskie informally took questions from five members of the public before a delayed tour group of teachers arrived.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Open Door Church in Chambersburg is wrapping up a little history with a lot of Christmas spirit this holiday season. Last year the church drew an audience of 700 for a Civil War-era Christmas play, and this year it hopes to triple the crowd with a longer version of the show on three nights. "Christmas at Home" begins with the birth of Emmanuel Christmas McLaw on Dec. 25, 1848, in Berryville, Va., and spans several decades, focusing on the Civil War. The play's message touched so many people last year that church members Darlene and Tom Russler immediately began working on ways to improve the show for this holiday season.

Fire on the Mountain: The Battle of South Mountain By KEVIN CLAPP / Staff Writer Fire on the Mountain: The Battle of South Mountain Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10 Md. 34 south of Boonsboro to Monroe Road Admission $5 For information, go to www.fireonthemountain.org on the Web. Civil War re-enactors - more than 1,000 of them - are going to relive 1862 this weekend just south of Boonsboro.