Civil War reenactment on the river will bring the boom of cannons

Come July 19, the Muskingum River will come alive with a Civil War reenactment that sees guests of the Lorena Sternwheeler getting shot at from the river banks — and the boat firing back.

“They won’t even let me know where the cannons are,” said Captain Bill Page of the specialty cruise that will see more than 50 reenactors and six or seven cannons along the shoreline conducting a Civil War battle. “It rattles the windows every time they fire.”

The 2024 Lorena Sternwheeler Civil Reenactment and Encampment will take sail from Zane’s Landing Park at the west end of Market Street in downtown Zanesville Friday, July 19, on its Night Flight Cruise from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at $20 per ticket. You can also catch it Saturday, July 20, for $22.50 per ticket at 10 to 11:30 a.m., Noon to 1:30 p.m., 2 to 3:30 p.m., or 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The Sternwheeler itself joins in the fun as well, loading up with a cannon on front and actors with Civil War era equipment and uniforms on the boat.

“We have artillery people on the boat with rifles who fire back at them,” said Page, who earned his Captain license while in the U.S. Coast Guard and then as a yacht Captain in Florida running charters around the Caribbean. “It’s really a super fun time. We have entertainment on the boat, too. A guitar plyer and his wife—they do Civil War music.”

They also have actors who represent Abe and Mary Lincoln. This year, the two will join during the 10 a.m. and noon rides.

“When they join, they never come out of character,” said Page. “It’s like talking to Abe Lincoln himself.”

Additionally, Civil War Historian Steve Ball will provide entertainment on the Saturday rides.

Page said once the Lorena goes up the river and turns around at Riverside Park, there’s also an encampment there that folks can observe or later drive to and interact with.

“They have campfires and all that going,” said Page.

The Lorena Sternwheeler opens up for river rides in June and runs through October.

“We do public rides, private charters, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, a couple weeks ago we had Mickey Mouse on there,” said Page, noting the public rides are about an hour long. “We try to do things for the kids. We have special events for the kids, like a day that kids can steer the boat. Whatever you want to do.”

For tickets and more information on the Lorena, head to visitzanesville.com/Lorena.