Hours of Operation:

 

2020 Schedule of Events: - April 2-5

 

-Thursday April 2:

Noon - 10 p.m. Gates open for setup at noon Afternoon

 

-Friday April 3:

8 a.m. Gates open for setup / school displays from 9:30am-2pm
 

11:30am - Town Battle ( for school kids)

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4-6pm - Swap meet at Hotel

10 pm All personal vehicles out of town and camps, no overnight parking in town or camp

11 p.m. Quiet Time

 

-Saturday April 4: 

 

8:00 a.m. All personal vehicles must be out of camp, trench and village areas, no overnight parking in village or camps

9 a.m. Morning Formation - Safety and authenticity inspection and event briefing (held on the east commons of village).

9:30 a.m. Commander's meeting and walk-through of battlefield and village scenarios (All unit CO's and/or NCO's are required to attend if their unit would like to participate in the battles) Individuals welcome to walk through scenarios. Held on east commons after formation.

10 a.m. Museum opens to the public

11:00 a.m. 1st Town Battle starts – Russian Civil War

1:00 pm - Woods Battle - Gallipoli

2:00pm 1st Field Battle Starts – Western Front 1916

3:00pm Second Town Battle starts France 1918 in town followed by Suffrage March

3:30pm – Woods Battle - Eastern Front 1916

4:00pm 2nd Field Battle Starts – Western Front 1918

5 p.m. Museum closes to the public

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-Sunday April 6: 
 

8:00 a.m.- All personal vehicles must be out of camp, trench, and village areas
 

9:00 a.m. - Church Services
 

10 a.m. -Morning Formation - Safety and authenticity inspection and event briefing (held on the east commons

of village).

 

10 a.m. Museum opens to the public

11:00 a.m. 1st Town Battle starts - Western Front 1914

12:00 – Town Battle – Eastern Front Women’s Battalion of Death

1:00pm – Woods Battle 1918

2:00pm Field Battle starts – Western Front 1918

3:00pm Town Battle starts followed by Suffrage March - France 1918

4 p.m. Museum closes to the public

 

 

  Registration:

 

Registration will be located at the Café/Hotel at the west end of the village's main street.
-Thursday,  7pm-10pm  Gates open for setup at 8am
-Friday,  5pm-10pm
-Saturday,  7am-10am
Pre-registration can be found on (on Eventbrite.com at Midway Village Great War Event)

 

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Event Rules:

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​PERSONAL PYRO BAN:

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I wanted to remind the re-enactors that as of 2018 we are banning the use of home made pyro at the WWI and WWII Rockford events. We had two notable burn injuries in 2016 and 2017 events due to pyro grenades that were thrown. While we have a rule to have these devices inspected and test fired, neither were. Thrown devices have also bounced near the crowds, so posed a safety risk. For liability reasons, no grenades using pyro can be used. Also, mortars cannot project rounds anymore, but firing charges for smoke and report for firing are OK, provided you have a safe firing radius around the weapon where there are no re-enactors, and you are at least 50 feet or further from the public.

Commercially made smoke is OK to use, but use needs to be discussed with the battle coordinator. We will designate spots to DROP or lightly toss the smoke and it will not be allowed to be thrown anywhere within 50 feet of the spectator lines.

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Smoking Areas for WWI Reenactors and Vendors:

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The Rockford Park District passed an ordinance saying no one can smoke on park property anymore. A couple WWII re-enactors petitioned for changes to that ordinance that allows designed areas for re-enactors at events, so you now need to use dedicated smoking areas DURING PUBLIC hours or risk getting a ticket. Here are the details for smokers:

All 4 smoking areas are at least 50 feet away from buildings and enclosed areas, and are in non-public areas. Only reenactors, vendor, staff, and volunteers may use the smoking areas, they are not open to the public. There are receptacles in each roped smoking area to create less litter.

1. Area behind the village gate by the Eyster House (non-public area)
2. Area on the non-public side of the village gate behind the Hotel building
3. Woods entrance area on the Bike Path side, in the non-public area of the battlefield
4. Back woods entrance of the Perryville side

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These event rules were made by event staff on request from Midway Village and must be followed:

 

  • NO DOGS ALLOWED

 

  • All participants are required to wear their wristbands at all times

  • All re-enacters will go through safety and authenticity inspections. This includes civilian and non-combatant impressions.  Any discrepancies will be addressed and corrected immediately. Any unit that cannot correct their camp authenticity issues (such as tentage or use of modern camp gear in the open) will be asked to camp in the modern camping area in the re-enacter parking lot.

 

• NO live ammo allowed, only blanks should be carried or in your possession

 

• All NFA laws and rules, as well as Illinois State Firearm laws will be enforced. If you live in the state of Illinois, you must have a valid FOID card in your possession at all times. 

 

  • All class 3/NFA weapons will be checked for proper papers, ATF Form 3 and 4, and approved ATF From 5320.20

 

• Quiet Time will be in effect after 11 p.m. each night (There are residential areas surrounding the museum). QUIET socializing will be permitted around campfires.

 

• No overnight vehicles permitted in campsite areas or in the village.

 

•  Hair cuts will be to military standards for WWI. No hiding long hair under helmets or hats. Beards shall conform to your WWI impression (for example French/German/Austrian impressions).

 

• Your equipment, uniform, weapon, and vehicle should be original or an equivallent reproduction as was appropriate for the unit you portray. Any item converted to look like WWI equipment will be judged by event staff, if it is not accepted then it must be removed. For more detailed information on standards, see the Uniform/Equipment Requirements section of this website.

 

• All tents should be WWI, reproduction or converted to very close resemblance of WWI tents. WWII tents will not be allowed unless they are the same pattern and materials as issued in WWI. Any doubt contact Event Coordinator prior to installing your tent to ensure it is authentic.

 

• The overall event theater is France, Western Front, with scenerios for both early war (1915/16 – British, French, Belgian) and late war (1917-18 – where the Americans are involved). However, all WWI impressions are welcome to display at the event, but might not be allowed to participate in the battles. If enough combatants of other fronts are present, scenarios can be developed to include them.

 

• Re-enacters under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present at the event to participate. Soldiers impressions are not allowewd for anyone younger than age 16. For anyone age 15 and under, only civilian imnpressions will be allowed. For anyone under age 18, they must fill out a Minor's Waiver at registration to participate in the event. 

 

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Class III and C&R

 

  All NFA weapons will be checked for proper paperwork. All non dealers must have an approved ATF form 5320.20 for this event and have it with you at all times. All C&R and Class 3 etc., dealers will have copies of their ATF forms 3 and/or 4 with you to be checked at S&A.

 

All NFA rules apply!

Address for ATF 5320.20: Midway Village & Museum Center 6799 Guilford Rd. Rockford, IL. 61107

 

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Village Building Use:

 

Buildings are available for displays in the village. Buildings are assigned based on:

 

  1.    Unit or individual's display being best suited for inside a building, because of use of original artifacts that can only be displayed out of the elements, or based on the quality of the unit's display.

2.    You must have a WWI themed, historically correct display which will be approved by the event staff and the Midway Village Museum. The unit or individual most be set up for the entire weekend. Units that  pack up early or have their display closed during public hours will loose access to the building in the future.

3.    Buildings are issued to a specific individual, who takes fully responsibility for the building and its contents. If artifacts or furniture  are moved, they need to be placed back the way they were found at the event of the weekend. The individual is also responsible for any missing or damaged artifacts. And damage or issues should be reported to the event organizers.

    4.    The main purpose of buildings is to maintain displays even if there is inclement weather and the outdoor displays are rained out.

5.    As long as you meet these prerequisites, and fulfilled your agreement at the event, you will be locked in for next year.

 

You will submit your request and your intent to the event staff person in charge of unit placement in the village, contact Dave Fornell. We then will review your request and let you know either way. The bigger the display the better, one table will not be enough. Using the building as a "barracks" will be rejected. The sooner you get us your request the more chance you will have in obtaining a building. Requests will be placed on a waiting list and assigned as a building becomes available.

 

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Security:

 

Event staff will enforce event rules and make calls on safety issues. Event organizers will be backed up by Park District Police and Rockford Police Department. The Park Police will patrol the camp and village after hours, so be on your best behavior.

 

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Re-enactor Parking and Parking Pass:

 

Re-enactor parking is located off Perryville road. Entrance is just past Home Depot. Entrance will be marked by yellow signs on black fence which faces Perryville road.

 

  Upon registering, you will receive a "Parking Pass" which you will print your first name and your unit info on the face of the pass, then you will place this pass right side up on the dash of the vehicle you came in. If you brought four people with you, you will have four passes on your dash. failure to comply will only get your vehicle ticked and/or towed.

 

  The Reenactor parking area will be marked as to where you can park. Event staff will monitor the lot and ask people to move their vehicles if they park in driving lanes.

 

  NO parking is allowed for re-enactors or vendors in the museum parking lot. You cannot park your vehicle on the west side of the camp area and village per Rockford Park District.

 

  Reenactors will be given 15 minutes to unload/load their car during setup hours (except during school tour and public hours). Park your vehicle, then walk to registration, then unload your vehicle, do not, drive around camp area looking for your unit, registration will have that information and someone will show you where to go.

 

  Once you are done unloading/loading your vehicle please park your car in the re-enactor parking area ASAP, to give others room to unload/load!

 

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  Vendor Hall:

 

 

Hellar Armbruster (armbruster@springnet1.com) is the coordinator for the venders and will directing how tables will be setup and make final decisions on anything concerning vendors. 

 

• Vendors will be set up at in the designated Buildings upon arrival.

 

• Vending fee is $50.

 

• Venders, when you arrive, please go to registration to fill out vending form and pay the fee. Venders may setup outside the if desired, but confirm site location before unloading.

 

• If you would like to vend at Rockford, please contact Jessica MacDonald of Midway Village & Museum Center

 

• Venders will have between 30-60 min. to unload.

 

• During public hours you will not be able to drive in the village, and no parking your vehicle in the village.

 

• Cars must be parked in the re-enactor parking area.

 

• Vender registration closes the first week of April - no walk ins will be accepted.

 

• Vender setup begins no earlier than Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m. Absolutely no setting up before that time.