Statement on Assault Rifle Legislation, July 2023

Midway Village Museum will conduct our upcoming World War II Days event as planned on September 30 – October 1, 2023. We do not see that the recent legislation – Assault Rifle Bill IL HB 5522 – has any effect on our event whatsoever. As we interpret the legislation, the law will not impact events such as our yearly war reenactments, as the firearms are used with blank ammunition for entertainment purposes only. Nor do we expect any impact on future reenactment events at Midway Village Museum.

 

Patrick OKeefe
Executive Director
Midway Village Museum
 

Do I have to preregister?

If at all possible. It helps us capture all your information in case of an emergency and to have accountability for the more than 1,000 re-enactors on site. Those who do not pre-register will be charged a convenience fee for registering on site. 

 

How do I register?

Individual registration will open after unit registration. Unit registration can be found here https://forms.gle/ST3Zh3u792QeiTM88.

 

Can a reenactor under the age of 18 participate?

Absolutely. However there are a few rules to follow:

Anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent/guardian on site to sign them in and accompany them while on-site.  Unaccompanied minors require a permission form to be filled out by a guardian/parent and to be notarized by a notary public prior to the event. There will NOT be a notary on site. You can find the necessary form here.​​

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Participants in battle reenactments must be 18 years old. No one under the age of 18 shall be permitted on any active battlefield. No one under 18 years old shall possess or handle an operational firearm, act as a member of an artillery crew, or participate in any battle reenactments. Non-operation weapons are okay for minors to handle in camp displays only.

 

What if I can’t arrive until after the event has begun?

If you arrive to register after 9 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday, YOU WILL BE CHARGED admission at the gate and instructed to leave all gear in your vehicle. Proceed to registration where you will receive a wristband and refund ticket. Return to the admission gate to redeem your refunded admission and collect your gear. This is a safety precaution as there are nearly 10,000 in attendance making it difficult to know who is and who is not a re-enactor.

 

Where do I check in when I arrive?

Registration is at hospital building inside the village gates. It is marked as building 16 on the map here.

 

Where do I park?

Reenactors must park in the Perryville lot which is the designated reenactor parking area. Reenactors must register to receive a parking pass. Please put your campsite number and phone number in case staff needs to contact you.

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Vehicles with trailers should park at the south end of the lot.

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You can find maps that show the Perryville lot here.

 

When can I bring my personal vehicle into the Village to set up?

On Friday, September 27th, 2024 no personal vehicles will be permitted in the Village between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. due to the presence of hundreds of school children. After 3 p.m. personal vehicles will be allowed in to set up.

 

On Saturday and Sunday, September 28th and 29th, no personal vehicles are allowed in the Village, camp, or vendor areas during the public event hours.

 

No personal vehicles are permitted overnight in campsites or village areas.

 

When can I bring my car into the Village to load up at the end of the event?

Usually we are able to allow personal vehicles in for teardown by 3:30 p.m. Rockford Park District Police will make this call after ensuring that all visitors have left the village. Before the all clear you are welcome to take items out of the village on foot.

 

Can I bring my dog?

No animals are allowed at the event except for service animals. This is a Rockford Park District rule.

 

Where can I smoke during my stay at the museum?

No smoking of tobacco is allowed on the Midway Village Museum campus, except in designated roped areas per Rockford Park District ordinance. No recreational marijuana or alcohol is allowed on Midway Village Museum campus.

 

There are four designated tobacco smoking areas:

1. Area behind the village gate behind the Red Barn (non-public area);

2. Area on the non-public side of the village gate behind the Hotel building;

3. Woods entrance area on the Bike Path side, in the non-public area of the battlefield;

4. Back woods entrance of the Perryville side.

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