Huntington Beach Civil War Days – 2026

Southern California’s Largest Living History Event

The Huntington Beach Historical Society is proud to host the 30th annual Civil War Days Living History Event in Huntington Beach Central Park during the 160th anniversary of America’s Civil War. Living history events like Civil War Days allow people to experience vivid recreations of life in our past in ways that would not otherwise be possible, and learn about some of the most important moments in our collective history. This event is facilitated by hundreds of dedicated volunteers portraying people from all walks of life, and as always, our events are free to the public. Come out to see this grand display this Labor Day Weekend!

Civil War Days was founded in 1993 by Maureen Rivers and Carl Clink in Bartlett Park behind the Newland House Museum in Huntington Beach. This first event hosted no more than thirty reenactors with a single cannon. Today Civil War Days has expanded to host historical reenactors from all over the United States, attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year.

The Huntington Beach Historical Society welcomes you to this glorious event that is always free to the public. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Huntington Beach hosted a number of annual Western region encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization of the Union veterans of the Civil War. At these encampments members met to reminisce about their service, promote veterans advocacy, and to teach people about the War, and the history of our country. Now we are proud continue Huntington Beach’s tradition by promoting historical education and understanding in our community through Civil War Days and The Revolution.