Galesburg Heritage Days

04/11/2026

Folks I've said before that posting about the passing away of our fellow family/reenactors is terribly hard to do. Richard Gaddie passed away March 6th. There was already a celebration of life at the end of March, but we will honor him at the event in August as well. Thoughts and prayers to all family..... Richard you will be missed...

12/26/2025

When you enter our gates as campers at Galesburg Heritage Days, sometimes you come again, and sometimes you don't. Somehow over the years, it's no longer just an event for us, it's a re-enactor family reunion! We look forward to seeing you pull up and hate to see you leave. Some folks we see at other events and some folks just once a year. You have no idea the impact that your friendship means to us and to Galesburg Heritage Days. When we lose one of you, it hits hard. That's why the remembrance is so important to us. Many times I've sat at this computer with tears in my eyes trying to post of someone's passing. Sometimes I just write a sentence or two or just post an obituary, because as Chell Doll put it, "I just can't".... We lost another shortly before Christmas in a tragic truck accident. Dave and I refer to him fondly as "a mountain of a man". We will miss his smiles, laughter, and his bear hugs. The memories of Duke and Lynn keep popping into my mind. The tears continue to flow.. The years of school day demonstrations, the trap throwing contest and the making of my front gate bell to name a few. Never enough time... We want you all to know that your memories live with us for always. You are not forgotten... Thoughts and prayers are with all friends and family... Last I knew, Lynn wasn't up for phone calls at this time.... Update: Lynn is now accepting calls.....

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10/07/2025

Trying to keep on track for 2026 this year. Things needed: Will update as I remember more lol....
1. Inside storage for our 2 trams.
2. Galesburg Heritage Days local volunteers.
3. Saturday and Sunday golf cart drivers.
4. Retired teacher/teachers to head and run our Friday school day event.
5. Re-enactor demonstrators and guides for our Friday school day event.
6. More Tuesday setup and Sunday teardown volunteers.
7. Silent Auction items.
8. Folks to change trash bags in porta potties daily.
9. Tram Drivers on Saturday and Sunday.
10. Someone to take charge of our kid's play area.
11. Camper setup and tear down help.
12. Early risers to help take down parking ropes on Saturday morning.
13. Jim Martinson approved dog soldiers.
14. Someone camping near the civil war entrance to rendezvous and the pavilion entrance to rendezvous to put up and take down Camp Closed signs each night/day.
15. Camp help to shut down and open roads off Lake Storey and by the pavilion.
16. Traders to get to Thursday night trade meeting.
17. Would really love a wooden set of stocks for pictures!
18. More kid's rendezvous prizes.

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10/07/2025

I'm a bit behind this year... Our 2025 Galesburg Heritage Days was certainly hot; thank goodness Dave came up with the big fans for the shelters. Dave and I would like to give a shout out of thanks to all the folks that helped make this years' event possible. The first on our list is Hy-Vee! We were without ice service this year and Mike Miller arranged ice and delivery to us at Lake Storey. Thanks also to all the folks that helped with paperwork, medallions, wood cutting, wood loading, hanging up signs, setup, tear down, silent auction items, Sean & Jen Braden our pie and cake auctioneers this year, pie/cake auction items, drawing items, auction bidders, competitions, campers, traders, kitchens, demonstrators, Bradley Mahler with church service, public visitors, dog soldiers, first-aid stops, Tom Poplett arranging both the First Student bus service, and the folks that helped with our first aid station, The City of Galesburg, recreation, parks, police, fire department, water department, ambulance service, sponsors, our first year using M & M Cars, Eagle Enterprises, The Outhouse portables, Mississippi Valley ATM, People's Rental, Perkins, Bradley Smoker, Ray & Sheri Price for the bigger wood trailer, gate help with Aunt Kathy who made this years' quilt and crew, Jennifer & Lilly Robertson, Roger Bennett and family, Keith & Marcia Stahl, camp walkers, Uncle Chris and other golf cart drivers, front table help, donation table help, t-shirt buyers, mug buyers, etc. Thanks to Katy Reddington and The Performing Arts Academy and Friends, Mike Kinney on the bagpipes, The Heritage String Band, The Lewis & Clark Fife & Drum Corp, the Glaser Family, Wendy from Imaginethatgraphics for the 30th anniversary T-shirts, Melissa Gascoigne with Wandering Thru Time for our mugs, Duke and Lynn Snyder for the trap throw and prizes, and the local schools and homeschool groups that came out for our kids educational day, etc. I know I have not mentioned many people that deserve recognition. We could not pull this off without each and every one of you. Again, the list is endless, if you helped us get through the event, you are appreciated! Thank you for your understanding when things didn't quite go as planned and the heat was unbearable.....

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10/07/2025

More Galesburg Heritage Days Thang Ho pictures!

10/07/2025

Thang Ho pictures at Galesburg Heritage Days!

10/07/2025

Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corp pictures from Thang Ho Photography at Galesburg Heritage Days!

10/07/2025

More Galesburg Heritage Days photos from Thang Ho Photography

09/02/2025

Dates for next year's 2026 Galesburg Heritage Days are Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16. We are busy planning even now!

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08/23/2025

James DeWitt won the 2025 GHD Quilt and Chris Dunemann won the Bradley Electric Grill/Smoker! Congratulations!!

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