SPANISH FORT, Alabama — The next Blakeley Park boat tour of the Tensaw-Mobile River Delta will be Saturday for the pleasure of holiday weekend visitors who also can view living Civil War history on the battlegrounds where it actually occurred.

 Liberty Guard Mess, a group of young re-enactors from Central Florida who formed in 2010, will set up military camps and portray picketing and skirmishing that preceded the pitched Blakeley battle April 9, 1865, the last of the Civil War.

 Specializing in the life of the common soldier of that war, the re-enactors will portray both Confederate and Union enlisted men who fought at Blakeley. Adventurers can explore the natural sites of the Delta in a narrated boat trip aboard the park’s 50-passenger Delta Explorer from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Both Blakeley Park campgrounds, the primitive tent camping area and the modern Apalachee RV park, will be open throughout the holiday. Camping sites are available, but limited.

Civil War impressions can be seen at various times and places in the park on Saturday and Sunday at regular admission prices of $3 for adults and $2 for children. About 40 re-enactors will portray Confederate 46th Mississippi and Union 83rd Ohio. Scattered activities Saturday will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with attack by Union 12 at noon.

Sunday activities will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Union attack at noon. Re-enactors leave at 1 p.m. Sunday. No Civil War activities are planned Sunday afternoon or Monday. There will not be a full- scale battle but there will be skirmishing as well as open Civil War camp impressions and weapons demonstrations.

Civil War activities Memorial Day Monday will depend on travel schedules of the Florida re-enactors although the park will be open all day for other activities.

 “This is an outstanding group of serious young men who are passionate about authenticity and educating the public on the life of the Civil War soldier in camp and in battle,” said Jo Ann Flirt, park director. “When they were here last fall, we invited them to come back for Memorial Weekend activities,” she said.

Prices of boat tickets for the Delta Explorer are $25 for adults and $15 for children 6 to 12. Seating is on a first come-first serve basis but can be reserved in advance using major credit cards by calling 251-626-5581. Camping may be reserved at the same number.

Family picnicking, trail walking, bike riding, horseback riding and walking the park’s newly open Hiding Tree Boardwalk all will be available as usual. The park is open daily. Day  visitors’ hours are 9 a.m. to dusk. Modern restrooms are located in three areas of the park. Pets on leash are allowed. Most areas, including the lengthy waterfront boardwalks are handicapped accessible.

Blakeley Park is on State Road 225 about 4.5 miles north of U.S. 31 at Spanish Fort. For more information go to blakeleypark.com, e-mail blakeleypark@aol.com, Blakeleypark at Facebook, or call 251-626-0798.