CRESTVIEW, Fla., April 24, 2026—Spring’s annual “Race to the Rhein” living history weekend returned to Crestview Saturday.

Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Spanish Trail Park, this educational opportunity involves a couple dozen World War II re-enactors, period equipment, war-era vehicles and historic accuracy in uniforms, insignia, weapons, campsites—called bivouacs—and even the way the re-enactors live.

“We want accuracy in everything the visitors see,” said Andrew Untamo, commander of the German re-enactors. “A foxhole was much more than a hole in the ground. It was a well-planned defensive position, a miniature fortification.”

Preparation for the two-day living history weekend began Wednesday with volunteers spread out in the wooded area behind the Crestview Senior Activity Center. Directional signs show the way to various European cities, and fence posts planted with fake PVC “barbed wire” strung on them serve as a barricade for the audience to stand behind during battle scenarios.

On Thursday, work inside the senior center transformed the building into an onsite museum. Historic artifacts are displayed including vintage uniforms, weapons, military medals, war era posters, helmets and photos.

Around the room, informational graphics include 4-by-8-foot history panels and displays featuring reproductions of highly detailed wartime editorial cartoons by Jewish Polish-born artist Artur Szyk. Original U.S. war bonds posters and one-sheet posters for WWII films add to the color.

Also in the “museum” is an honor table displaying photos of local residents’ World War II veteran family members and friends.

The history pavilion outside the museum features war-era vehicles, plus history panels that discuss events, campaigns, personalities and milestones of the war. This year’s focus is on “War Comes to America” since 2026 is the 85th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Several panels describe the events leading up to the Dec. 7, 1941, attack and America’s response just four months later with the Doolittle Raid on Japan.

Historian and U.S. Navy veteran Henry Gonzalez oversees much of the activity during the weekend, including setting up the museum. It’s his job to enforce everything from the accuracy of re-enactors’ uniforms and camps to the rules under which the battle scenarios are “fought.”

“It’s all about two main things: education and safety,” said Gonzalez. “We want our visitors, especially the students, to come away from Race to the Rhein with a completely new understanding and appreciation of what World War II was all about and why it remains important today. Plus, we want our visitors and re-enactors to be safe during the battle scenarios.”

The weekend concludes Saturday night with a free big band USO-style show and dance at 6 p.m.

Story and photos by Brian Hughes, City of Crestview cultural services specialist