Where: Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Westchester County, N.Y.

Description:

For most current info see: https://www.brigade.org/whiteplains2026

This is the designated 2026 national event for the CL and BAR, we should have maximum participation.

The 250th Battle of White Plains

Presented in partnership with Westchester County Tourism, this commemorative weekend will interpret one of the defining engagements of the 1776 New York Campaign.

Following the loss of New York City, General George Washington withdrew the Continental Army northward, preserving his force while requiring the British to continually adapt their strategy. At White Plains, American forces occupied favorable terrain and engaged Crown forces in a hard-fought action. Although British forces ultimately captured Chatterton Hill, Washington successfully withdrew his army intact and ensured that the Revolution would continue.

Our goal is to tell that larger story through an immersive weekend of military and civilian living history.

Two Distinct Event Areas

Because of the anticipated public attendance, the event will consist of two distinct areas.

Zone A – RevFest will be operated by Westchester County Tourism as a family-oriented public festival featuring food vendors, sponsors, community organizations, entertainment, and family activities. This area will intentionally have a modern atmosphere and, pursuant to the grant requirements, is separate from the Brigade’s operational control.

Zone B – Brigade Living History Area will contain the Brigade’s dedicated 18th-century programming, including the Continental and Crown encampments, military demonstrations, tactical programming, civilian interpretation, artisans, and camp life.

A major priority throughout our planning has been maintaining separation between these two areas so visitors can transition from the modern festival into an immersive 18th-century environment.

Camp Assignments & Layout

Unlike many events where units simply establish their camps as they arrive, White Plains will utilize predetermined camp assignments.

The Brigade has developed detailed CAD-generated schematics for the Continental and Crown encampments. These plans include company streets, tent locations, fire lanes, pedestrian routes, camp kitchens, public access, and support areas.

Every unit will receive an assigned camping area prior to the event.

This is one of the reasons the upcoming requests for final tentage and participant numbers are so important. We want to make sure each unit has adequate space while creating an organized and historically appropriate military encampment.

Detailed participant and camp maps will be distributed before the event.

Participant Amenities

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provides us with an extraordinary amount of space, but participants should be prepared for considerable walking throughout the weekend.

To make the experience as comfortable as possible, our current plans include water buffalo stations within close walking distance of both military camps, portable restrooms adjacent to the encampments, modern shower facilities elsewhere within the reservation, and designated modern camping and RV areas for participants who prefer not to stay within the historic camps.

Clearly marked pedestrian routes will connect the camps, parking areas, tactical field, and public programming.

Firewood will also be delivered to designated locations near the encampments for distribution within the camps.

Tactical Demonstration

The Battle of White Plains will be interpreted through a carefully planned two-phase tactical demonstration emphasizing battlefield maneuver, command and control, terrain, and the fighting withdrawal that characterized the campaign.

The action will begin with the Crown advance against the Continental position and portray the American withdrawal toward Chatterton Hill before culminating in the assault on the American position.

Our goal is not simply to create battlefield spectacle. The tactical is being designed to help the public understand why the battle unfolded as it did and how Washington preserved his army despite the loss of the field.