Next door to Hearthside is Chase Farm Park, where 85 acres of picturesque meadows and hills offer an ideal backdrop to carry out a variety of historical reenactments that bring history to life. Events have included Civil War and Revolutionary War reenactments where the thunder and smoke from cannons and muskets fill the air, as uniformed soldiers charge at each other. Historians narrate the battles, and the lessons go beyond the battlefield to the encampments for up-close and personal interactions to learn more about what life was like for soldiers and civilians alike during the periods of conflict. Special exhibits at Hearthside, lectures and activities accompany the reenactments to provide an immersive experience for our visitors. These major events, held every other year, are popular with reenactors and spectators alike, typically bringing in 300 reenactors and over 3,000 spectators.

A primitive reenactment, Mountain Man Rendezvous, has also been held at which pre-1840 history is featured in encampments and the settlers practice their archery and knife throwing skills. Native Americans have also gathered in powwows at Chase Farm Park to hold drumming circles, storytelling about nature, and share the exotic flavors of authentic foods and craftsmanship of their wares with the public.

Chase Farm Park has hosted another type of reenactment….a foxhunt. The Downton Abbey Fox Hunt and Luncheon depicts scenes from the popular series, Downton Abbey. Majestic horses with formally-clad riders and specially-trained hounds bound across the meadows in pursuit of their prey, except it is only the scent of a fox that is used, not real foxes. An elegant luncheon, music from the series, a bagpipe, and docents in Edwardian finery add to the festivities in the hills.