The 2025 World War II Weekend Living History event is scheduled for this weekend at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Hwy. 21, in Hillsboro.
It’s the second year for the event to be held in Jefferson County. It was established in the 1970s and previously was held at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County.
The event is open to the public, and no admission is charged.
The nonprofit U.S. 2nd Rangers Infantry Battalion of St. Louis holds the event, which will include World War II reenactors staging military camps and battles.
Festivities begin Friday when invasion history will be presented exclusively to local school groups at the Fairgrounds. The festival will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Battle reenactments are set for 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Food vendors will be on hand on Saturday and Sunday only.
Dan Dexter, president of the 2nd Rangers Infantry Battalion, said the World War II Weekend Living History attracts reenactors from a wide area.
“We draw from all over the region,” he said. “Kentucky and Illinois will be there, and we’ll draw from all over the St. Louis metropolitan area.”
Dexter said he expects a large number of spectators to flock to Hillsboro for the event.
“There are a lot of people interested in World War II history,” he said.
A new activity for the festival, a WWII Canteen Dance, is set for 7-10 p.m. Saturday in the Fairgrounds building. Dance tickets will cost $20 at the door and $16 in advance through the U.S. 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion of St. Louis Inc. Facebook page.
Participants are encouraged to dress in 1940s military or civilian attire.
“We will have a 17-piece band, the Gateway City Big Band,” Dexter said.
For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.