D-Day Conneaut is a massive three-day annual reenactment on Lake Erie's banks in Conneaut, northeast Ohio. It's an extremely lifelike and educational portrayal of the WWII European Theater of Operations and the D-Day Normandy invasion. World War II history enthusiasts from all over the world flock to Conneaut to observe an impressive spectacle, featuring WWII tanks, vehicles, boats, costumed reenactors, and much more.
Schedule of events
Highly realistic and exciting, D-Day Conneaut offers a spectacular educational and family-friendly experience with plenty of fun activities for children and adults. Visitors can interact with living history re-enactors representing World War II U.S., Commonwealth, German soldiers, sailors, and civilians, witness training exercises, and see historic military exhibits in the D-Day Museum. Artillery and Tank Firing are scheduled for each day. People of all ages can meet WWII Veterans and honor them in person.
Visitors can experience four historic battle recreations and skirmishes on the 250-yard-long beach, which looks like Omaha Beach in Normandy. One climactic battle involves Allied troops landing via Higgins Boats, DUKWs, and LVTs. The event runs from 9 am to 6 pm for three straight days. The same schedule will repeat each day, and all major battles will take place each day.
Location, Tickets & Parking
The event occurs within the beautifully kept grounds of Conneaut Township Park in Conneaut, Ohio. To make your visit more comfortable volume-wise, booking free online tickets that will be available to the general public starting June 6th is mandatory. Kids 5 and under do not need tickets. You can park on side streets near the park. Limited shuttle service will be provided from the designated accessible parking areas.
History of D-Day Reenactments
Reenactment activities pay tribute to the events of June 6th, 1944. The Normandy landing, also known as D-Day, was the largest seaborne invasion in history, conducted by the Allied Forces in Operation Overlord during World War II. Ashtabula County in Ohio, with its vast Lake Erie beaches, bears a resemblance to the Normandy coast. Held since 1999, D-Day Conneaut is USA's premier living history event. The event draws over 1500 reenactors and historians.
