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On Saturday and Sunday, February 27 – 28, 2016, Moores Creek National Battlefield will host the 240th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, the 1st Patriot victory of the American Revolution, which helped to stall the British invasion of the south for most of the Revolutionary War and ended Royal authority in North Carolina forever. The year 2016 also marks the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. Activities will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days and the event is FREE.
The weekend will kick off with a Wreath Laying Ceremony to honor the lone Patriot soldier that lost his life during this battle, as well as the other Patriots who made a stand to secure freedom here in North Carolina. Other activities include militia encampments, which will display both Patriot and Loyalist militias, their weapons, and what life was like within the confines of an encampment; musket and cannon demonstrations, as well as the use of the Scottish Broadsword; artisan and trades demonstrations, such as blacksmithing, chair caning, powder horn making, spinning, bread baking, gardening, colonial medicine, surveying, historical sun dials and navigation, toys and games, quill pen writing, and much more. On Saturday, the Duplin Dulcimers will be playing several times throughout the afternoon, and John Golden will be here performing colonial era-music. On Sunday, the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps will perform at 2 p.m. at Patriots Hall and is sure to be a great interpretive program.
Visitors will be free to tour the battlefield, history trails, and Visitor Center, which includes exhibits, a 10-minute orientation film, and a great book store and gift shop. Food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and BBQ sandwiches will be available for purchase from the Atkinson Fire Department, or families can pack a lunch and have a picnic in the park. For more information about this event, please visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moorescreeknps or email Matthew Woods at matthew_woods@nps.gov.
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