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150 Years After the Battle: The biggest BATL Ever

by Henry Bryant

Can you say Sesquicentennial? The folks at the BATL event have been practicing for 10 years to get it right! By the time you read this this year’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the historic Battle of Atlanta will be in full swing with the big day of events coming on Saturday July 19th. Other fun will fill out the week. This is your last reminder before the final weekend.  If you have attended before, you know that there is too much to do in one day or even one weekend and much of it is offered free of charge.

A few of the programs and activities have a nominal charge that ultimately will help restore the two battlefield monuments in East Atlanta and Kirkwood. On Thursday July 17 and Sunday July 20 will be a special theatrical presentation by the East Atlanta Guerilla Theatre and on Friday July 18th the Southern Order of Storytellers will join the Bow Weevils for a dramatic presentation all at the “Battlefield Theatre” in Reynoldstown. The Doublequick 5K will kickoff Saturday’s activities on July 19th followed by the Bike, Van and Walking Tours where visitors (and residents) learn about our nation’s history that happened in the Porch Press neighborhood. All tours leave from the East Atlanta Village.

For free visitors can take in a concert by the Historic 8th Regiment Band at Fire Station 13 in East Atlanta Village. These award winning guys play historic musical arrangements on authentic instruments in authentic union and confederate uniforms. New this year, you can come get your picture taken with Scarlett and Abe Lincoln at the BATL Storytelling Fest going on at the East Atlanta Library and near the re-enactment over in Kirkwood. Fiddlin Dan the Mountain Man will bring his old time music and stories in a 10am program designed for ages 7 and under and later Brer Rabbit will return. In East Atlanta Village, costumed characters will bring Civil War to Civil Rights History to life while the Bow Weevils play a morning concert nearby (You can bring your chair and breakfast to start the day). Abe Lincoln will tell stories and recreate the Gettysburg Address at several sites

Speaking of historic recreation, the Frontlines Experience will have more troops along its earthen breastworks. “If you haven’t been up close to these soldiers and their cannons, you owe it to yourself to come and spend an hour or two,” says organizer Wayne Carey. It is a sensory experience that the kids enjoy and remember. There are free tours of Clay Family Cemetery throughout the day and a special free tour of Sylvester Cemetery. Twilight Civil War Tours of Oakland Cemetery on the 19th and 20th will be offered again for free, but visitors will have to pick up a ticket at the BATL headquarters on July 19th. Those Oakland tickets are limited and usually go pretty fast. Organizers recommend getting to headquarters in the morning to get your tickets.

Also on Sunday the 20th will be a tour of Fort Walker in Grant Park and an author presentation at Cyclorama. Wendy Venet will talk about her new book on Atlanta’s civilian life during the war followed by a book signing and a tour of the famous painting – all for free!

There is so much to do that it does take some planning. Plus, some ticketed programs sell out. More information and tickets are available online at  HYPERLINK “http://www.batlevent.org” www.batlevent.org. There is a complete schedule there. You can also call 404-377-6148. Information, maps and tickets will also be available at BATL headquarters on July 19th in the East Atlanta Village near 450 Flat Shoals Avenue.


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