These days? Plenty! Litchfield Hills is in the Northwest corner of Connecticut and a popular destination spot for vacationers. In this area you’ll find waterfalls, state parks, the Appalachian Trail, picturesque villages and peaceful rural scenes.

During the revolutionary period this area played host to Comte de Rochambeau as he marched his French army of 5,000 men across Connecticut to aid George Washington’s army in New York, and eventually to deliver defeat to the British in Yorktown.

In commemoration of this significant event of American History a major reenactment is scheduled for Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills the weekend of June 17 and 18.
The March to Victory Weekend to be held at Platt Farm in Southbury will be the largest Revolutionary War event in New England this year. The site will be on a 119-acre property adjacent to the actual march route.

Hundreds of participants from the Fifth Connecticut Regiment and their families, dressed in authentic costume, will set up a realistic military camp complete with outdoor cooking and field musicians. Events on Saturday and Sunday will include parades and drills, field skirmishes reenacting the Battle of Breakneck Creek, and rifle shooting competitions.

Under the Main Tent, talks and videos will explain the importance of Rochambeau’s role in gaining America’s freedom. Hours for the reenactment activities are Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students; children five and under are free.

For a Free Brochure on the Re-enactment in Southbury, contact Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759; or call 800-663-1273.

For Civil War buffs during the same weekend a second realistic reenactment, this time from the 1860s will see the famous Valley Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War, presented by Company H, 1st Maryland Infantry, June 17 and 18 at the Housatonic Boy Scout Council’s Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation in Goshen.

Events on Saturday and Sunday will include ongoing civilian camp demonstrations, Confederate and Union field drills, cavalry and artillery demonstrations, a recreation of a field hospital, period fashion shows, dancing demonstrations and a reenactment of the Front Royal battle of Wadham’s Grove at 1:30 p.m. each day. Admission to the Goshen event is $8 for adults, $4 for school age children, free for anyone in scout uniform. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more ideas and suggestions of things to do in this area check out my special Northwest Connecticut vacations page by clicking here.

Have a great week,

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Attractions Online Guide