Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle
- Dates
- Oct 17 to 18, 2026
- Status
- Cancelled
- Venue
- Northbrook Sports Club
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle in Hainesville, IL is not currently confirmed to be running. Froligo tracks its status, history and similar festivals still happening.
What happened to Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle?
The Village of Hainesville's event page says that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the Village's control, the 2026 Civil War Event has been cancelled.
It last ran in 2026.
Similar festivals that are still going ahead are listed further down this page.
The experience
What's special
The Village of Hainesville's annual Civil War Encampment and Battle turns a rural field on the Northbrook Sports Club grounds into an 1860s military and civilian camp, built around a narrated battle depicting the Battle of Belmont with Union and Confederate infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Between engagements, visitors walk the bivouacs, watch battlefield surgeries and period medical displays, and meet costumed historical figures, past editions have featured Abraham Lincoln, General Grant, Harriet Tubman, and village founder Elijah Haines. Admission and parking are free, and the whole event is framed by organizers and press as an educational look at the period
What people love
The modest scale is part of the appeal, a free, walkable, family-friendly weekend that a 2025 news report placed at about 350 attendees on the Saturday, drawing Civil War enthusiasts and curious first-timers alike, one of whom described it as informative and enjoyable even without a prior interest
See it before you go
Costumes & what to wear
Do I need a costume?
Visitors attend in ordinary clothes; the event's draw is watching, not dressing up. Period costume is worn by the reenactors and civilian presenters who staff the camps, and it is welcomed for visitors who wish to join in. Reenactors must check in at registration before entering the grounds
Joining in
Visitors walk through the military and civilian camps, see battlefield surgeries and period medical displays, and meet costumed historical figures, past editions have featured portrayals of Abraham Lincoln, General Grant, village founder Elijah Haines, Harriet Tubman, and Thomas Morris Chester, alongside speeches given in character
Getting there
How do I get to Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle?
By car
Most people drive to Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Free. Visitors are directed from the information booth to a visitors' parking area; separate parking is set aside for reenactors, presenters, media, vendors, and EMS
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hire →Car hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Mid-range hotels 3
Grayslake, IL
≈ $130-170 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Gurnee, IL
≈ $110-150 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Gurnee, IL
≈ $120-160 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Airbnb & private camping
Lake County's Grayslake, Gurnee and Round Lake area has a solid short-term-rental supply given its proximity to Chicago and Six Flags Great America, with weekend rates that can run higher near the theme park
Search Airbnb →Hipcamp listings are thin in this dense Chicago-suburb corridor; a hotel is the more realistic option for most visitors to this event
Search Hipcamp →Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
Historical context
This is a living-history reenactment depicting the Battle of Belmont (November 7, 1861), staged with military and civilian Civil War encampments. Historians identify slavery as the central cause of the American Civil War; its outcomes included the emancipation of nearly four million enslaved people.
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