Lockerly Arboretum is again getting plans in place for the annual Heritage Festival on the grounds of the facility.

Director of Events Gloria Prance said she suspects this year’s festival may eclipse the previous year.

“One thing that is going to be a highlight is our Civil War encampment,” Prance said. “There will be around 15 people camped out with horses and a campfire. It’s really going to enhance the Heritage Festival. There will be a re-enactment of Union soldiers going up to Lockerly Hall like they did when they were here during the war.”

Prance said the Civil War re-enactors would be a diverse group of actors who will portray the calvary and infantry of the Union soldiers as if it were November of 1864 when Sherman’s army caused so much havoc in Milledgeville.

Lockerly Hall is the circa 1839 Greek Revival Mansion that sits on the grounds of the arboretum. The historic home appears much as it did when it was built and tours of the home will be available on the day of the event.

This year’s festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and will for the first time include a plant sale that will compliment the annual spring plant sale.

“At this plant sale, people will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of annuals, perennials and woody ornamentals,” Prance said.

In addition to the plant sale and Civil War era encampment, the festival will feature plenty of activities for kids and adults.

Prance said that while on a horse-drawn wagon tour led by Jimmy Johnson, participants will make beaded bracelets. Jerry and Susie Burns will be dressed as a frontiersman and plains American Indian, respectively. Other actors will be dressed in period clothes.

White Oak basket weaving demonstrations and instruction will allow visitors to learn the art of creating baskets by hand, and arts and crafts vendors will offer their wares to festival goers.

“We have 18 arts and crafts vendors,” Prance said. “Each of them is unique — there are no duplications.”

The Baldwin Service Center will perform and take part in the festival and will have a booth, and entertainment will be provided by a local dance troupe and a gospel group.

Square dancers from the Oconee River Buskers will perform and The Upward Sounds will provide old time gospel singing.

“We’re going to have story-telling for children by Jeanette Waddell,” Prance said. “She is a renowned story-teller.”

The festival will also feature demonstrations in quilting, fabric weaving, music, toy-making and good and beverage vendors will also be there.