The Civil War is returning to the area this weekend as Isle of Wight County prepares to host its annual Christmas in the Field reenactment.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday and include cavalry and infantry demonstrations, battles, church services and the decorating of a period Christmas tree.

“It’s an annual event that we do out at Heritage Park,” said Jennifer Williams, historic resources manager for Isle of Wight County. “It usually attracts a number of Civil War re-enactors.”

Williams said the event is the perfect mix of entertainment and education.

“The folks that come up answer questions about what it was like to live in the time period. They do some education out there and interact with the people who come through.”

The county has been doing the event for a number of years, Williams said. With the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War coming up, the amount of interest in the Civil War has grown, Williams said.

“It will be a lot more than just those two specific battles each day,” she said.

In addition to the soldiers’ actions, a civilian ladies’ group will reenact some more civilian aspects of the war, such as quilting together and decorating the Christmas tree.