By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

A look at life in the Civil War era will be on display at Shelby Iron Park’s 23^rd annual Fall Festival.

The free event is Oct. 8-9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, located at 10268 Shelby County 42.

The Shelby Historic Association, a non-profit group responsible for maintenance and development of the park, presents the festival each year as its primary fundraiser.

“Without the success of this festival, we would really struggle,” SHA treasurer Harry Burks said. “We try to showcase the way that living may have been in the Civil War era.”

The festival features tractors and a parade, antique vehicles, tour rides and a train ride, music, raffles, vendors, country cooking and the Iron Works Museum.

The most popular features also return, including the making of cane syrup, sawmilling and blacksmithing.

“What we’re really about is perpetuating the history of Shelby Iron Works and the little town of Shelby,” said Jerry Willis, an SHA board member. “It is an educational event.”

The event will also give folks a first look at a new building, which is almost complete. Once finished, the building will have a full restaurant-style kitchen, bathroom facilities and a large meeting and dining area for community events.

The building hasn’t been named yet, but Willis said one possible name is “The Warehouse,” a tribute to Shelby Iron Works founder Horace Ware.