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If you hear musket fire this weekend, don’t panic. It’s all part of an event coming to Simmons Island Park. “Rebels and Redcoats” — an American Revolutionary War re-enactment hosted by the North West Territory Alliance — is 10 a.

m. to 4:30 p.m.



Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.

m. Sunday. The event is free and open to the public.

The North West Territory Alliance, a nonprofit organization that re-creates the culture, lifestyle and arts of the American Revolution era, has more than 500 members and stretches across the Midwest, from Iowa to Ohio, south to Tennessee, and as far north as the Canadian border. But its roots are much closer. “This is our 50th anniversary,” said Marvin Rasch.

“We were founded in the Racine Heritage Museum 50 years ago this fall. So we’re coming back close to where we started.” Rasch, commander of the organization’s 3rd New York Regiment DuBois Unit, also has roots in this area.

The Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, resident was born and raised in northern Wisconsin and graduated from Carthage College. He’s been a member of the re-enactment group since 1987 and jokes that he’s “unusual in this organization in that I’m a man who married into this hobby.” His wife, Kathy, a Racine native, started as an 8-year-old, following her parents into the world of the Revolutionary War.

“The family is still involved,” Rasch said. “Our kids do it now, too.” Visitors to the weekend event will have the chance to interact with the re-en.

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