World War II Days at Midway Village returns for a 28th year

    Midway Village Museum will present World War II Days from 10 a.m. to to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, and from 9 a.m. to to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, on the museum campus, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford.

    The largest World War II re-enactment in the Midwest brings together over 1,000 reenactors and scores of authentic military vehicles for this one-of-a-kind special event. Visitors will see Allied and Axis troops and encampments representing nine separate warring nations, watch skirmishes and large-scale narrated battles, experience the thrill of authentic WWII-era tanks and military vehicles, listen to lectures and musical performances, and enjoy a variety of activities as the museum property is transformed into a frontline village from the 1940s.

    “World War II Days is the pinnacle of our yearly living history schedule, and every fall we are excited to present an insightful and engaging re-enactment of World War II,” said Patrick O’Keefe, Executive Director of Midway Village Museum.

    Event highlights include:

    • Narrated battles on both days with pyrotechnics

    • Skirmishes, demos, and displays

    • Lectures on The Holocaust and Antisemitism; WWII Veteran Experiences; and The Legacies of Pearl Harbor

    • Live 1940s Era Musical Performances, including the Andrews Sisters

    • Briefings from General Patton’s Mobile Command Tent

    • Rock Valley R/C Flying Club displays of WWII-era model airplanes

    • Militaria Sales Vendors from around the Midwest

    • Rockford Peaches team reenactors, and 1940s Girl Scouts (Sunday only)

    • Rare military vehicles: Panzer 1 Aus C, M2 Halftrack, Pak 40 7.5cm Anti-Tank Gun, Flak 88 anti-aircraft/anti-tank gun, 1945 Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer Tank Destroyer and Sd.Kfz. 251 Spw Armored Personnel Car; 1942, M3A1 Light “Stuart” Tank, 1942, Raupen Schlepper OST (RSO), 1942 SDKFZ 231 8 Wheel Heavy German Armored Car, M22 “Locust” Light Airborne Tank, 1945 Willys-Overland 1/4 Ton Truck MB “Jeep”, M16 Half-Truck, M8 Light Armored Car “Greyhound”, M5A1 Light Tank “Stuart”, German Halftrack SDKFZ251D

Admission rates

    • Adults – $19

    • Children (5-12) – $12

    • Children (0-4) – Free

    • Member Adults (13+) – $10

    • Member Children (5-12) – $8

    • WWII Veterans – FREE

    • Veterans and Active Duty Military – $14.

    Visitors may purchase tickets online at midwayvillage.com, by calling 815-397-9112, or at the gate on the day of the event. Each individual ticket is good for entrance on either Saturday or Sunday.

    Event attendees are welcome to bring camp chairs for battlefield seating. All events are rain or shine. No refunds or rain checks. Schedule is subject to change.

    Visitor services include food vendors, free parking, ATMs on-site, a VETANK motorized wheelchair (available for reservation on a first come, first served basis), and vendors selling antiques, military collectables, vintage clothing, and books. Food vendors are Ambiance Cuisine Cocktails & Catering, Lulu’s Roasted Corn, The Machine Shed, Pig Minds Brewing, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, and Vintage Goose Café.

Schedule of activities

Saturday, Sept. 28:

    Battle schedule: Returning this year, three “woods skirmishes” will take place according to the following schedule. Note that for safety reasons in the compact woods area, there is a limited audience availability of 250 per woods skirmish.

    • 10 a.m. – Open

    • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Meet 1940s Girl Scouts

    • 10:30 a.m. – Lecture: D-Day: 24 Hours that Saved the World

    • 11 a.m. – Woods Skirmish

    • 11 a.m. – Gen. Patton Briefing

    • 11:30 a.m. – Lecture: My Parents’ Stories: Holocaust Survivors and Profiles in Women’s Resistance During the Holocaust

    • 11:30 a.m. – Music by Sweet Reminders

    • Noon – Woods Skirmish

    • 1 p.m. – Battle on Main Battlefield

    • 1 to 4 p.m. Cut Flower Sale

    • 2:30 p.m. – Gen. Patton Briefing

    • 2:30 p.m. – Lecture: The Five Million Forgotten

    • 2:30 p.m. – Aerial Display – RC Flyers

    • 3 p.m. – Woods Skirmish

    • 4 p.m. – Battle on Main Battlefield

    • 5 p.m. – Close

Sunday, Sept. 29:

    Battle schedule: Returning this year, three “woods skirmishes” will take place according to the following schedule. Note that for safety reasons in the compact woods area, there is a limited audience availability of 250 per woods skirmish.

    • 9 a.m. – Open

    • 9:30 a.m. – Lecture: D-Day: 24 Hours that Saved the World

    • 10 a.m. – Woods Skirmish

    • 10:30 a.m. – Lecture: My Parents’ Stories: Holocaust Survivors and Profiles in Women’s Resistance During the Holocaust

    • 11 a.m. – Woods Skirmish

    • 11:30 a.m. – Music by Sweet Reminders

    • Noon – Woods Skirmish

    • Noon – Meet the Rockford Peaches

    • 12:30 p.m. – Lecture: The Five Million Forgotten

    • 12:30 p.m. – erial Display – Scott & RC Flyers

    • 1 p.m. – Gen. Patton Briefing

    • 2 p.m. – Battle on Main Battlefield

    • 3 p.m. – Close