The Civil War will come alive in Suffolk beginning Saturday.

More than 2,000 people are expected to take part in festivities through Sunday. This is the second year of the event in downtown Suffolk.

Guest speakers, re-enactment camps, music, fun and games are all on the agenda. Here’s a snapshot of some of the events that will take place:

nToday at 7:30 p.m., the Suffolk Art League’s guest speaker, Dr. Elizabeth O’Leary, guest curator of the servant life exhibition at Maymont Foundation, will speak on the work of Civil War illustrator Winslow Homer at the Suffolk Museum.

nExpert authors, living history exhibits, museum, bus tours, entertainment, vendors and crafters will be along Prentis Street throughout the weekend. The thoroughfare will be closed to auto traffic for the weekend. The festival site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The &uot;All-American Opening Ceremony&uot; will kick off at noon on the center stage, paying tribute to heroes past and present.

nFor a nominal fee, families can enjoy horse and buggy rides or guided lantern tours this weekend through Cedar Hill Cemetery and narrated bus tours of Civil War sites around the city.

Other events planned for the weekend include the awards ceremony for a citywide Civil War poetry contest for elementary, middle and high school students and a memorial service honoring the 98th anniversary of the passing of Confederate Brig. Gen. Laurence Simmons Baker.

The event is sponsored by the Suffolk Division of Tourism, Suffolk Parks and Recreation, Riddick’s Folly House Museum, Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, SEVAC, Sons of Confederate Veterans/Tom Smith Camp, Norfolk County Grays Camp 1549, Target, Producers Peanuts, Duke Automotive, Martin Screenprints & Embroidery, Suffolk Art League, Special Events Entertainment and the Suffolk United Daughters of the Confederacy.

For more information, contact the Suffolk Visitor Center at 923-3880.

luefras.robinson@suffolknewsherald.com