Officially, war hasn’t touched United States soil since 1920. However, the second weekend of each November, two battles are fought north of Camden, South Carolina.

The three-day event, hosted by the nonprofit organization Southern Campaign 1780, has been running for over 50 years. This year’s event also celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Continental Army.

The weekend is centered around recreations of the battles of Cowpens and Camden. A wide variety of food, souvenirs and experiences line the large, fair-like camp built a short walk from the battlefield.

Whether you’re a Continental Army commander, a baker or a blacksmith like Jim Brown, all the re-enactors share a deep passion for the history they’re portraying. Brown said he hopes to inspire a similar passion in others.

“That’s why I’m here,” Brown said. “To educate people on this period, especially with the blacksmithing.”

Brown said South Carolina stands out as a natural location for a large-scale reenactment.

“South Carolina played a huge part in this country’s independence,” Brown said. “I think it’s great that we’re honoring that.”

Cade Clark, a fife player, first went to the event when he was 3 years old, and has only gotten more involved since.

“I’ve been attending the Battle of Camden for, I can’t even tell you long,” Clark said. “I got recruited into the cannon crew, then last year I brought my fife here. Now I’m playing with them.”

Southern Campaign board member Erick Nason, a former Army Ranger who holds a doctorate in education and has been reenacting since 1987, serves as re-enactor coordinator. Nason navigates months of logistics and feedback from previous years to organize the battles. And he narrates them as they happen.

Nason said seeing people immersed in and enjoying the living history experience is what keeps him coming back.

“To see this huge crowd come out makes all the hard work worth it,” he said.

Nason, who strives to educate people about the war’s Southern Theater and its importance to American independence, said the event’s teaching value was especially clear on Friday, Education Day, which was closed to the public and dedicated to local students.

“We had about 1,500 school kids here,” Nason said. “The kids could go anywhere they want. I had my cannon going. We had displays of muskets. We had musket drills so they could actually try one. It’s much easier to appreciate history when you can get your hands on it.”

Liz Canada, who serves as living history director at the Historic Camden Foundation, said it was valuable for people to appreciate both technological advancements and the value of how things were done in the past.

“I think people take a lot for granted today when you can just go to the store and buy what you need,” Canada said. “It’s really nice showing people how much work goes into making some things, especially before there were factories and machines.”

Kansas City, Missouri, native Josh Shope serves as the group’s armorer, maintaining muskets much the way his historical counterparts did. Shope joined the group with respected weapons knowledge that’s only grown with experience, but said it’s been extremely valuable to connect with his fellow re-enactors and learn from them.

“I had never sewn anything before,” Shope said. “Now I make all my clothes. I made this Hessian regimental. I made my waistcoat. I made my neck stock and shirt and overalls. I made this cartridge box, that’s all from stuff I’ve learned from other people.”

Southern Campaign 1780 isn’t the only organization in the state that’s devoted to Revolutionary War history. Attendee Scott Bruton, an army veteran, serves as State Color Guard Commander for South Carolina’s chapter of Sons of the American Revolution.

Bruton, who brought his family with him to the festivities, including his daughter who was visiting from Germany, and enjoyed it so much he plans to join the group for next year. Bruton, who had ancestors who fought in Camden 250 years ago, said events like these are critical to appreciate both the nation’s heritage and your own.

“Do you want to know if you had people help bring freedom?” Bruton said. “Do you want to know if you had somebody in the Civil War that fought against slavery? The only way you’re going to know is if you dig. You got to be willing to go look, because it’s never given to you. Freedom is never given to you. It’s earned.”