Kalamazoo Living History Show™
Scheduled for March 16-17, 2013

Theme of 38th Annual Kalamazoo Living History Show™ Announced

More than 10,000 re-enactors from the French and Indian War through the Civil War, history buffs, collectors and the general public from the United States and Canada are expected to attend the 38th annual Kalamazoo Living History Show™.  The juried, nationally recognized show is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17, 2013, at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, 2900 Lake Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan.   The show attracts over 270 of the finest craftspeople and dealers of pre-1890 living history supplies and related crafts from throughout the United States. 

The newly expanded Kalamazoo County Expo Center now offers an exciting new venue in the form of an ultramodern, state-of -the-art, 24,000 square foot exhibit hall. The show is excited about the opportunities the new Expo Center gives us to better promote education and development in our hobby by offering more space for traditional crafts, demonstrations, and programming. The just-finished facility will make possible several new activities and features, including:

• Additional period vendor booths
• Children’s activities
• Entertainment, including live period music, and light snacks in a seated, relaxed atmosphere
• Discounted table rates for not-for-profit reenactment groups, historic sites, and museums to enable them to recruit new members, promote their sites, promote their events, or educational activities.

About the Theme
A small garrison of less than 200 held the town of San Antonio de Bexar, the former Spanish capitol of Texas.  Nearby stood an old Spanish mission that had been converted to a military garrison, called the Alamo.  Here, at the Alamo, they would await the revenge of Santa Anna…

Join us for the 2013 Kalamazoo Living History Show™, as our knowledgeable presenters bring to life the men whose battle cry was “Victory or Death!” and the Texians’ iconic fight against insurmountable odds. Scheduled speakers include Gary Foreman of Native Sun Productions and Terry Todish. 

The Alamo	David Crockett

Be sure to visit with “Davy Crockett,” portrayed by William Sheets, at the Alamo Display in the Main Expo.  Alamo Display is courtesy of Native Sun Productions.

Period Music and Native American Drumming and Dance a Highlight of the Show
 Scheduled musicians and performers include the Bush Native American Drum and Dance, and the musical duo Jim’s Red Pants. 

Members of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Bush Native American Drum and Dance tell the story of their People through their outstanding drumming, singing, and dancing.  As the Pokagon Potawatomi tribal educational material states: “…the drum for the Nishnabe has special meaning: it represents the heartbeat of our people.  The word dwégén has its root in the word odé, which means heart in our language.  In a traditional sense, our instruments are more than simple material objects we use to make music.  They are representative of where we come from, our connection to Nokmeskignan, Grandmother Earth.”  The Bush Native American Drum and Dance perform at many pow wows and historical festivals.  They are always great favorites wherever they appear, and their music and dance are eloquent representations of a vibrant culture.

As the musical duo “Jim’s Red Pants,” Rick and Hillary Wagner play a variety of original, historic, and contemporary American, Celtic, Scandinavian, and other world folk music.  Rick and Hillary have performed at many living history events, including the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon, Mississinewa 1812,  Roscoe Village, the Lore of the Laughery, Ohio Folk Festival, Penn’s Colony, and Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village. They have recorded six CD’s. In addition to their main instruments of fiddle and guitar, Rick and Hillary play Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, penny whistle, concertinas (Anglo and English style), flute, and banjo.

The 38th annual Kalamazoo Living History Show™ is open to the general public Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is $7.00 for a single day adult pass; $10.00 for a weekend adult pass.  Children 12 years of age and under admitted free when accompanied by a parent. 

Contact Information
For information about the Kalamazoo Living History Show™, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, P.O. Box 2214, West Lafayette, IN 47996, telephone 765.563.6792, kalamazoolivinghistoryshow@gmail.com, or visit our website at:  www.KalamazooShow.com.

EXPO Center Map

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