Giving kids physical grasp of Civil War

America’s Civil War will be reenacted by 250 actors in period costumes this weekend at Fairview Park, and organizers are hoping to draw a young crowd.

The project, which is a collaboration between local veterans and historical groups, is a first for Costa Mesa and its creators hope to expand it and take it on the road if it’s successful.

“Any kids who see this, their eyes are going to light up. Two-dimensional education doesn’t work with the modern child: He needs to touch it, smell it, grasp it,” said Jeff Sharp, one of the event’s planners who works with veteran’s association AMVETS.

The demonstration will have all of the standard war reenactment staples including cannons, rifles and other military apparatus, but it will also feature the nonviolent aspects of wartime life. A similar spectacle takes place in Huntington Beach over the summer, but it’s harder to incorporate the educational aspect because kids are out of school, Sharp said.

He and his cohorts approached Costa Mesa with the idea.

“They really are history buffs on the Civil War and they wanted to share it with people in our area,” said city Management Analyst Carol Proctor.

Opposing camps will be set up by the two sides: the Union and the Confederacy. Actors will interact with the spectators, answering questions and talking about their fictional lives.

If all goes according to plan, reenactments of the world wars and the American Revolution might follow.

Activities will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Two battles will be staged at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and two will be staged at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Those who want to attend should park in the Estancia High School lot. The events are all happening in the upper bluff area of the park.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Battle of Costa Mesa” Civil War reenactment

WHERE: Fairview Park

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

COST: Free

Reporter ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.