The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie will offer a chance to roll back the years with its History Fair this Saturday and Sunday.
Impersonators of past presidents Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt will be among the more than 50 historians who'll present their favorite pastime--a celebration of past times.
This is the Stone Fort's fourth History Fair, which alternates every other year with Old Stone Fort Days, a Revolutionary War observance.
"The last one was the first time it was as popular and well-attended as Old Stone Fort Days," said Carle Kopecky, museum director.
"We no longer get quite as many calls asking when the battle is."
The History Fair is open 10am-5pm Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday. (See related story for schedule of events.)
Unlike Stone Fort Days, the History Fair isn't limited to one era, and in fact it's designed to spur public interest in all eras of history.
"The point is to promote enthusiasm for the study of history, Mr. Kopecky said. "Participants are people who are fascinated with some aspect of history, and they're dying to share it."
And, he added, this isn't generating interest just for the sake of it.
"It's not so much learning about history," Mr. Kopecky said. "The study of history develops critical thinking and the ability to separate fact from fiction. The better you can analyze history, the better you can look at events today."
The fair this weekend, Mr. Kopecky added, will have so much "that it will be hard to see everything."
As the headliners, Joe Wiegand will portray President Roosevelt, while Peter Lindemann will play President Lincoln. Both will give speeches, grant interviews and meet with the public.
Music will be a big part of the fair. Because 2012 is the bicentennial of the War of 1812, David and Ginger Hildebrand will perform music from that period, which spawned "The Star Spangled Banner."
Their performance is funded by a grant from Schoharie County NBT Bank branches.
There will be Civil War music both days. The 77th NY Regimental Balladeers will perform on Saturday, and the Iron Jacks will follow on Sunday. The Donna Lavigne Agency in Cobleskill is funding both performances.
Rural Felicity will play colonial music on both days.
Another feature will be a military timeline, starting in 1675 with a Polish Winged Hussar and continuing through the Vietnam era. Along the way will be a Roman gladiator, a Viking and a German pilot from World War I.
Also, Colonial and Civil War troops will camp next to military vehicles from World War II through Vietnam. The vehicles are from the NY-Penn Chapter of Military Vehicle Collectors, who had the Armed Forces Day parade in Cobleskill several years ago.
The fair's not all military. The Golden Fleece Spinners & Weavers will give a sheep to shawl demonstration, and the Iroquois Indian Museum will make bead bracelets.
Also, the Hudson Mohawk Chapter of Pioneer Gas Engines will have early 20th Century machines on hand, and visitors can help raise a quarter-scale Dutch barn.
Authors and their books will be on hand, including John Wilkinson of Schoharie with his recently-published "The Schoharie Valley."
"Whatever you interest in history is, we're all for it," Mr. Kopecky said, "whether it's collecting baseball cards or studying the Revolution."
Kids under 17 get in free, as does anyone dressed in pre-1975 costume.
"You can come as a flower child, but nothing more modern than that [is free]," Mr. Kopecky laughed.