OSV to kick off August with Redcoats and RebelsDate: 7/16/2015 STURBRIDGE – More than 1,000 historic military reenactors and 10,000 spectators will converge on Old Sturbridge Village Aug. 1 and 2 for the village’s 12th annual Redcoats and Rebels, the largest Revolutionary War reenactment in New England.
Weekend highlights include mock battles and skirmishes between the Colonial and British troops and their allies. Soldiers on horseback return this year, and mounted troops from the Second Regiment Light Dragoons will demonstrate cavalry sword work and drill maneuvers. Visitors can also witness cannon and musket demonstrations, visit the field hospital, enjoy fife and drum music, and experience daily life for soldiers in battle and encampment.
Throughout the weekend, Old Sturbridge Village is filled with non-stop activity, teeming with more than 1,000 reenactors in historic costumes and uniforms, making Redcoats and Rebels a favorite among visitors and history-buffs alike. And visitors will see a lot more than just marching and drilling---- in camp, reenactors will demonstrate historic methods of cooking and baking, as well as making soap, candles, brooms, musket balls, buttons, bowls, and more.
Old Sturbridge Village’s own new reproduction cannon will also be a part of the excitement, as it is positioned within the Patriot regiments. Cannons like these, perhaps leftover from the Revolutionary War, were used in 1830s New England and fired for Independence Day celebrations or even political rallies.
In addition to free second day admission, Old Sturbridge Village offers free parking and extended evening hours Aug. 1, when the village stays open until 8 p.m. for the popular “Twilight Encampment,” a chance for guests to mingle with and talk to the soldiers around their campfires. For details, visit www.osv.org.
During the war for independence, both the British and American patriots received significant aid and assistance from other nations. Several of the units participating in Redcoats and Rebels will portray Scottish, German and French soldiers. The British, Hessians and American Loyalists pitch their tents throughout the countryside, while the Continental [or Patriot, if you prefer] troops, American militia, and their French allies are billeted on the Village Common. For visitors, a walk through the Village becomes a walk through Revolutionary War history as they can talk one-on-one with the reenactors and learn about each military unit’s role in the conflict.
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Old Sturbridge Village presented its 2015 President’s Award to Jonathan L. Fairbanks at an invitation-only reception on June 17 at the Union Club of Boston.
Since 2009, the President’s Award has honored those individuals whose work, like that of Old Sturbridge Village, brings meaning, relevance and inspiration to the public through the exploration of New England life and history, and whose scholarship has had a significant impact on the museum field.
Fairbanks is a leading national authority on arts and antiques, with a career in the museum and fine arts field that spans five decades. Receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah, a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania through a program with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and a Master of Arts in Early American Culture from the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program, Fairbanks’ commitment to the field is continually demonstrated through his many accomplishments.
A renowned artist in his own right, Fairbanks’ artwork is held by institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Boston Public Library. He served as Curator of the Department of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from 1970 to 1999, and has the honor of being curator emeritus.
He also serves as a research associate at Boston University, senior vice president of AntiquesAmerica.com, editor at large for Antiques & Fine Art Magazine, honorary chairman of the Decorative Arts Trust, and the vice president of research for artfact.com. In 2012, Fairbanks was named the new Director of the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts, where he continues their important mission of challenging traditional perceptions of craft while also honoring the achievements of the past.
Along with his professional career, Fairbanks has published many scholarly works including the seminal work New England Begins: The Seventeenth Century, with Robert F. Trent, American Furniture: 1620 To the Present, with Elizabeth Bidwell Bates, and Becoming a Nation: Americana from the Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State with Gerald W. R. Ward.
In presenting the award to Fairbanks, Old Sturbridge Village’s President and CEO Jim Donahue said, “We could not be more pleased to present Jonathan L. Fairbanks with this recognition, as he has been instrumental in fostering a deep appreciation for New England’s past, and has worked tirelessly to promote and preserve it for posterity.”
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