Convention and Visitors’ Bureau says Grierson Days is done

By Gary Scott on January 15, 2016 at 7:17am

After being resurrected for a 20th year, it appears a popular Civil War re-enactment in Jacksonville has officially concluded.

A press release from the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors’ Bureau indicates Grierson Days will not happen in 2016. The decision was made by the Grierson Committee along with the visitors’ bureau and the City of Jacksonville.

The bureau and city picked up sponsorship of the event, held in Community Park, last year after the Grierson committee decided it wasn’t going to run it.

Grierson Days was started as away to celebrate and remember General Benjamin Grierson, a Jacksonville native who led an important raid for the Union during the Civil War.

Visitors’ bureau executive director Brittany Henry said there were many factors in ending the event, including finding a location, money, and volunteers.

Henry said in a press release, “This will be a hard event to replace, although in 2017 we are looking to bring a new historic event to the area, one that will include many different organizations here in town…

“I am proud of the work that the Grierson Society has done over the last 19 years and I am also proud and grateful of those who came together to help see this event through its 20th year. The event was made possible with the help of not only the re-enactors, but also many volunteers and generous sponsors, and I would like to thank them all.”