On March 15-16, 2025, thousands of living historians from across the country will descend on Bentonville Battlefield for the 160th Anniversary Reenactment of North Carolina’s largest battle. Over 2,000 reenactors are expected for the two-day event, which will make it one of the country’s largest reenactments in 2025. In addition to the daily battles, the event will feature free lectures,19th living-history displays, period music, and dozens of “sutlers,” selling Civil War-related items. The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, involved 80,000 troops in one of the last major actions of the war. A patched-together Confederate army under the command of Gen. Joseph Johnston failed to halt Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s advance through eastern North Carolina, eventually leading to the largest Confederate surrender of the war at Bennett Place near Durham weeks later.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets well in advance of the event, with tickets available for in September 2024. Organizers also suggest arriving early and making a day of it at Bentonville. The battle scenarios on Saturday and Sunday are the only events that require tickets. Visitors may inspect the soldier’s camps and enjoy other activities including lectures, displays, house tours, music, demonstrations, and more, free of charge. And, if hungry, visitors may purchase food from the Bentonville Fire Department concessions.
The 2025 event is sponsored by the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, Inc., the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. All proceeds from the event support Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site with a portion of earnings earmarked towards a capital campaign for a new visitor center for the site.
Bentonville Battlefield is located at 5466 Harper House Road, Four Oaks, NC 27524, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield or call (910) 594-0789.
