Saturday, Sept. 18, is this year’s celebration of Chickamauga’s War Between the States Day remembrance event. As always on this annual occasion, the veil of modernity will be briefly lifted to allow visitors and participants to glimpse what life was like during the 1860s when northwest Georgia was ablaze with the cannons and cries of war.

The Battle of Chickamauga occurred Sept. 19-20, 1863, and had the second highest number of casualties in the Civil War after Gettysburg. Chickamauga’s War Between the States Day will feature wartime re-enactments and demonstrations; people are encouraged to come dressed in their Civil War best.

This year, another historical element will be added. The first-ever Yesteryear Festival will be held in conjunc-tion with the War Between the States Day celebrations and will feature period costumes and crafts highlighting what life was like in Chickamauga around the turn of the 20th century. Artisans will be showcasing their wares at the Crystal Springs Bleachery all day and a parade through Chickamauga will begin at 2 p.m.

In addition to the cultural festivities, Saturday, Sept. 18, will feature culinary delights in the form of the Battle of Chickamauga BBQ Cook-off at the Gordon-Lee Mansion. This light-hearted competition is sanctioned by and will be judged according to the standards of the Georgia BBQ Association. A grand prize of $1,250 will be offered along with first- through fifth-place monetary and gift prizes. Four categories will be recognized: pork loin, ribs, pulled pork and sauce. The contestants’ area for the cook-off will be located between Gordon-Lee Mansion and Gordon Lee High School. Each registered contestant will receive one 20-foot-by-20-foot competition space.

The Battle of Chickamauga BBQ Cook-off is being held on the same grounds as the historic Blue and Gray Barbe-cue of 1889, which saw hundreds of soldiers and their families from both sides of the Mason-Dixon line gathering for food and fellowship. That one occasion spurred the preservation of the Chickamauga Battlefield through the foun-dation of the Chickamauga National Park, which was officially established the following year.

Saturday, Sept. 18, Chickamauga activities

War Between the States Day

Simultaneous activities at the Gordon-Lee Mansion and Crawfish Springs areas as well as the Lee and Gordon Mill’s site

Period re-enactments and demonstrations

Yesteryear Festival

Artisan demonstrations on Crystal Springs Bleachery grounds

Parade 2 p.m.

Battle of Chickamauga BBQ Cook-off

Gordon-Lee Mansion

GABBQ Association-sanctioned, participants must be GABBQ Association members to compete

$35 entry fee

Grand prize: $1,250

For further information or to register please contact:

Richard Barclift (706) 375-4728

barcliftr@bellsouth.net