Re enactments.

Booming cannons, cracking musket fire, thundering hooves and battle cries will resound across the San Jacinto Battleground this Saturday, April 16 from 10am-6pm as hundreds of history reenactors recreate the events leading up to Texas winning her independence at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto in an event organized by the San Jacinto Museum. This year’s reenactment will have even more significance as they celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence.

I’ve attended this exciting day with my family and we’ve really enjoyed it – there’s nothing like seeing men in full regalia to bring history to life! The San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment is free and takes place on the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte. The very full day will include living history camps, period demonstrations, family entertainment, children’s activities, and the state’s largest battle reenactment. Visitors can wander freely among the Mexican and Texian camps to learn what the soldiers of that day were doing prior to the battle and to see how they lived in 1836. In the military camps, visitors will learn how to perform the close order drills of the day. A few lucky children will be chosen to stand with the cannon crew and pretend to load the cannons and will be presented with cannon soot to wear on their noses as a badge of honor. The historically correct encampments and the Battle Reenactment are presented by hundreds of members of the San Jacinto Volunteers and other living history organizations from across the state. These groups help families new to the state as well as native Texans understand the history of this great state.

There is free admission to the Festival activities and the Museum and modest fees for the elevator ride, Reflections exhibit, and digital presentation. Engage with the Museum in cyberspace by visiting the San Jacinto Museum’s Facebook page and festival goers can upload photos and videos of their experience to www.flickr.com/groups/sanjacintomuseum 

Thanks to Sarah Gish from Gish Picks for this find.