10.30am to 5.30pm    Free admission

Another great success! Sheffield City Council once again invited EventPlan to stage historical displays as part of the 2008 Sheffield Fayre, with encampments spread over the picturesque landscape, and with superb views of the extremely photogenic main arena. Around 20,000 visitors flocked to the park for this great event.  Click for Red Zebra's photos, or for frequently asked questions.

Exciting arena displays depicted history through the ages with skirmishes, combat and soldiers' drill, equestrian displays, hand to hand fighting, musket, cannon & other weapons firing. Highlights included American Civil War and WWII battles.

Ongoing living history demonstrations ran concurrently with the above, with visitors taking the opportunity to literally "walk through history", finding out about military and everyday life through the ages and seeing period crafts & cooking. Children could also enjoy (safe) medieval have-a-go archery (a small charge applied).

Historical traders were also present.  In addition to our historical displays, there were the usual crafts, a horticultural show, children's entertainments and other activities to enjoy. A fantastic family day out for visitors!

Performers

There was a first class line up of performing groups: 

Classical Greek: The Spartan Society

Romans: Legio VIII Augusta MGV

Medieval: The Knights Hospitaller Association

C18th :  The 47th Regiment of Foot  and the Charles Edward Stuart Society

Victorian: The 11th Hussars (in splendid recreated uniforms from the time of the charge of the Light Brigade), recreated by The Cavalry

American Civil War: The American Civil War Society

American West: The Arizona Rangers and C Company, 7th US Cavalry

WWII: The Northern World War II Association, The Yanks Living History Group, 2/Pz.Aufkl.Abt.Grossdeutschland, Airborne Associates, Civilians at War Society,  Independant Field Company and Northern Forties.

Period swordsmanship lessons and demonstrations: The Society for the Study of Swordsmanship.

The battles

 

The WWII battles once again featured lots of British, American, German and Soviet soldiers, armoured vehicles, explosions, machine gun fire and furious combat!

The biggest battles were however presented by our ever popular American Civil War performers, with sweeping, colourful action with cannon, cavalrymen and massed ranks of Union and Confederate soldiers. There's a close link with Sheffield too as many weapons made in the city were exported to both sides, and with a staggering 50,000 British volunteers fighting on one side of the other, some of these men will have come from Sheffield and Yorkshire.

Re-enactment groups and other performers interested in taking part in our events are invited to contact us for further details; please click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation. 

Timetable of historical displays  

Ongoing living history and activities

In addition to timed displays, most of the above groups presented living history encampments and displays for vsitors to explore. Plus:

• Children could enjoy (safe) have-a-go archery with the Knights Hospitaller Association
• Soldiers’ encampments through the ages. A chance to find out what life was like in past ages, what soldiers and their families wore, ate, worried and joked about.
• Camp followers and civilians through the ages, with food prepared, and the opportunity to discover how different life was compared with today.
• The history and technique of dueling with swords with the Society for the Study of Swordsmanship. 
• C18th Jacobites of the Charles Edward Stuart Society, with have a go drumming!
• Soldiers of General Custer’s 7^th US Cavalry
• WWII living history from The Yanks Living History Group, Civilians at War Society, Independant Field Company, Airborne Associates and Northern Forties
• A fascinating selection of historical craftsmen and traders.

Updated 26 August 2008