World War II Days brings hundreds of reenactors, rare military vehicles to Midway Village in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app
ROCKFORD — More than a thousand reenactors and scores of military vehicles will fill Midway Village Museum’s grounds this weekend for the largest World War II reenactment in the country.
World War II Days is slated to take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday across the museum campus, 6799 Guilford Road. This is the 29th year of the event.
“World War II Days is truly the most awe-inspiring event of our yearly living history schedule, and every fall we look forward to our exciting re-enactment of World War II,” Patrick O’Keefe, executive director of Midway Village Museum, said in a news release. “This year includes our newly-opened Camp Grant exhibit in the museum center, which brings into sharp focus the extensive contribution of the Rockford community to the war effort.”
The event transforms the museum property into a frontline village from the 1940s with live music from the era, Rockford Peaches reenactors on Sunday, and other activities. There are also encampments representing the Allied and Axis troops with large-scale narrated battles and World War II-era tanks and military vehicles such as a M2A1 White Halftrack, a 1942 M3A1 Light Stuart Tank, an Amphibious Ford GPA from 1942 and a Humber Armored Car, to name a few. There are also informational lectures on the Holocaust and antisemitism, and women’s contributions to the war effort, among other topics.
Quick Facts | WWII Days
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28
Where: Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford
Cost: $20 for adults; $15 for children ages 5-12 or seniors 62 and older; free for children younger than 4. $10 for members ages 13 and older; $8 for members ages 5-12; free for World War II veterans; $15 for veterans and active duty military.
Info/get tickets: midwayvillage.com; or call 815-397-9112
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
