The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission awarded a $2,000 grant to The Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Foundation for the 2nd annual Fort Lincoln Freedom Fest. To learn more, you can find us on Facebook by searching for Fort Lincoln Fest. For more information on other Civil War sesquicentennial events, visit http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/events/.
The Second Annual Fort Lincoln Freedom Fest will be held on Saturday April 28th, 2012 at the Prairie County Community Center in DeVall's Bluff, Arkansas located on the White River in historically significant Prairie County. This is roughly 50 miles east of Little Rock on Ar. State Hwy. 70 and not far from the Interstate and the Hazen exit.
Many Union Civil War units rotated between DeValls Bluff, Brownsville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Those groups were: Infantry: 54th Ill, 61st Ill, 62nd Ill, 106th Ill, 126th Ill, 12th Mich, 3rd Minn, 29th Iowa, 57th USCT. Cavalry: 2nd Mo, 8th Mo, 11th Mo, 10th Ill, 9th Iowa plus many more. If your ancestor served and you would like to come for a visit, please do.
We will have period reenactors and historians presenting programs in the morning and afternoon. There will be a period musket that festival goers may fire and as well as period games throughout the day. This is a family event, so bring everyone including your favorite uncle and grandma.
Previous to the April 28th events, on April 21st there will be a Civil War gala/ball held at the renovated DeValls Bluff gymnasium. The gala will feature a sit down dinner catered by Stanley Young of Murray's Restaurant - period attire or semi-formal attire (no tie required) is the suggested dress. There will also be a silent auction and live entertainment. Karen Duffey, a professional reenactor from St. Louis, will lead anyone interested in period dancing! It will be an exciting month in Prairie County!
If anyone would like to participate in this years event with an educational display, a donation for the silent auction, or possibly be a vendor, please contact 870-659-5652. Educational displays would be especially appreciated and there is no fee for vendors.
Everyone is invited and the welcome mat is always out.