Moorpark

LATEST NEWS:

March 12, 2018

Here is a message from Lana Lilly, the Event Civilian Coordinator to civilian reenactors:

Greetings Citizens of Middleton!

We are just about a week out from set up at Moorpark and I could not be more excited!!

I had the privilege, on Monday, to visit the Moorpark site with Ed and several members of the organizing team to review the event layout.   This site is one of the best in Southern California and I am truly looking forward to kicking off the 2018 season here.

As we stood in the middle of “our” valley, every hillside had a lovely blush of green and there was not a modern intrusion in sight!   To help preserved this amazing view reenactor parking has been expanded allowing all vehicles to be parked out of sight!!!  There are strict plans to tow cars parked in undesignated areas so be sure to keep an eye out for No Parking signs.

The most exciting news I have to report is that Middleton: Civilian Town will be in the MIDDLE!!!  This year both military camps will be setup in the flat area below the battlefield and civilian town will be the dividing line between the two.  This gives us the opportunity for a lot of interaction with the public and the ability to interaction with both military camps.  We are literally going to be front and center, so let’s take this opportunity to show off our amazing camps and presentations!

There are some straggling RSVPs that I was expecting but have not yet received so be sure to email me your space requirements (Front measurement and Depth measurement) by Saturday March 10th, your arrival day and time are also helpful.  Sunday I will send out the town map, town roster and any last minute details.

Set up for the school program will start on Thursday at noon, with the school program running from 9am-12pm on Friday.  The civilian area can have 3-4 presentations so please let me know if you are interested in presenting.

Set up for the weekend will be Friday, please aim for a noon start so we can avoid mixing vehicles and kids.

I am looking forward to seeing you all!!  Travel safe and get your RSVPs to me if you have not already.

Best Regards,

        Lana Lily

February 22, 2018:

My fellow reenactors,

Less than a month to Moorpark. I hope you’ve made plans to attend!

As those of you who were at the event last year well know, this is the most rustic site used for a show battle event since at least 2000, and maybe more. At this time of year, the site will be especially enjoyable.

As is typical for the Moorpark event, we can use your help for the Friday school program. It will begin at 9:00. It will end about 12:00. If you are participating, please let me know and let me know exactly what you want to do. If you are participating in the school program, you can arrive after noon on Thursday.

Reenactors who do not wish to camp can get a great rate, $79.00 (including breakfast), at The Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, in Simi Valley. Call 855-214-4563 or 805-583-2000 and ask for the reenactor rate.

To get to the event:

Moorpark borders Thousand Oaks on its north side and Simi Valley on its west side. Those coming through Simi Valley will take the 118 Freeway. Those coming through Thousand Oaks will take the 23 Freeway. However you get there, you will exit the freeway where the 118 and 23 Freeways meet, Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark. From the 118, you will turn right. From the 23, you will turn left. Then go 1.2 miles to Moorpark Avenue. Turn right. Go about 1/2 mile and take the second left onto High Street. You will see the U.S. Post Office to the west. Adjacent to it you will see the event entrance and the road that will take you perhaps 600 yards to the event entrance.

Reenactors under 18 who will not have a parent present should download the attached form. Minors should have a parent sign it before coming to the event.

And then there is the “reenactors’ favorite,” the Saturday night dinner. Buy your ticket for the Saturday night chicken/tri-tip dinner on Saturday morning. The location to purchase tickets will be announced at the event. Who but the Moorpark Rotary provides a dinner of this quality to reenactors for a mere $7.00?

Lana Lily will be the civilian reenactor coordinator. Civilians, please contact her concerning your space requirements.

See the earlier message about the event that appears below this one.

Thanks to the Moorpark Rotary for all of its effort with this "jewel in the crown" of Southern California reenactments.

We're going to have a great time. I'm hoping that you will be there to enjoy it, too.

Ed Mann

P.S. By all means, please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested.

January 14, 2018:

My fellow reenactors,

It is hard to believe, but we're now only two months away from the first major reenactment of the year, Moorpark, March 17-18. In prior years, the event served as the climax of the reenactment calendar. Now, it will serve as the kickoff. Our theme will be "Gettysburg!"--always a crowd pleaser, and one which will lend itself well to our event site (Cemetery Ridge, Little Round Top, etc.)

We'll be back at Hitch Ranch (above) this year. Last year, reenactors loved the site. Only if a person stood at the far northern side of the battlefield and looked back to the south could one see any modern intrusions. Otherwise, from the reenactors' and spectators' view, the only modern intrusions at the site were ones that reenactors and the Rotary brought in to support the event. "Pristine" is a word that probably best describes the site.

Last year's event was in April. This year, the event has been moved to March. March is always the greenest month of the year, so the battlefield and bivouac area will be even greener this year. Southern California never looks as much like Virginia (or Ireland, for that matter) as it does in March.

If you can make it, your help will be much appreciated on Friday, March 16, with the traditional school program. The Rotary is making an effort to greatly expand the program this year, so you can expect to see many more schoolchildren that day. Plan on being there no later than 8:30 that morning.

I'm happy tor report that there will be no reenactor registration fees this year.

The "ever popular" reenactor swap meet will take place on Saturday morning.

For those of you who do not want to camp onsite, the Rotary will be able to offer, as usual, a great deal on local hotel lodging. Expect details soon.

Based on last year's experience, changes will be made this year concerning how we can use the ground more efficiently. Reenactor and spectator parking will be moved, and both reenactors and spectators will find their vehicles to be more accessible.

If you participated in the event last year, you will recall that a special entrance to Hitch Ranch was created for the event. The entrance is immediately adjancent to the Moorpark Post Office, 100 W. High Street, so that is where you should head and then follow the signs that will lead you to the event site.

More information will follow in the coming weeks. For now, I'm hoping that you have circled March 17-18 on your calendar. If you're plate is full with work and family responsibilities, and you're in the stage of reenacting where you will only attend one event this year, Moorpark 2018 is the one to make.

I hope to see you there!

Ed Mann

Reenactor Information