ROCKFORD — This weekend historic Rockford will be transformed into a battlefield as re-enactors stage war at the fifth annual Civil War Battle and Living History Weekend in Rockford.

Each year Rockford General Store sponsors a free re-enactment of Civil War battles, and store co-owner Carolyn Carter said the event grows each year.

“It’s just loads of fun,” she said.

The weekend’s events will take place on Saturday and Sunday in Rockford, with the battles being enacted each day at 1:30 p.m. Carter said there is much more for people to come and see throughout the day in addition to the battles. She suggested people come early so they can get convenient parking. Most people just park along the road or at local churches.

The re-enactors will camp out at the new park in Rockford starting on Friday night, and their battles will take place in the Rockford Amphitheater behind the general store. Once the re-enactors get settled in, the rest of their time at the site will be devoted to staying true to the period. Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, they will have roll call, cooking over open fires, demonstrations of how wounds were treated, and more. Many of the re-enactors’ families come and dress in period clothes as well.

“Children just love this,” Carter remarked. “It’s a way to get children to appreciate history.”

Carter said the men will represent Union and Confederate troops. Some will even be on horseback. They re-enact different battles each year. This year there could be anywhere from 40 to 100 re-enactors present. People from various groups participate — the 7th NC Cavalry, 21st Infantry, NC 30th, NC 28th, and more.

Last year it was rainy, but this year weather forecasts predict good weather. Carter hopes a good crowd of people will turn out.

She said, “Rain, sleet, snow, shine — we always have it.”

Although no Civil War battles took place in Rockford, a detachment of Union Gen. George Stoneman’s men did come through the village. This took place in April of 1865, according to the information provided on the Rockford Preservation Society Web site. In 2007, the North Carolina Civil War Trails Program erected a permanent marker at the York Tavern in Rockford.

Carter said, “Rockford is full of history. We love to bring it back. This is a way to do that.”

She and family members bought the Rockford General Store around six years ago. She said, “We’re all lovers of history.”

The general store will be open throughout the weekend. Traditional country ham biscuits, homemade chicken and dumplings, pintos, cornbread, and fried apple pies will be available for sale.

For more information about the Civil War event, call the Rockford General Store at 374-5317, go online to visit http://rockfordgeneralstore.com, or look at the store’s Facebook page.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.