Greg Lamp signs up for a raffle to win a Civil War chess set at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Grand Meadow. -- Herald file photo

Grand Meadow is getting ready to party like it’s 1862.

Grand Meadow will celebrate its sesquicentennial when it kicks off Meadowfest 2012 on Friday night.

Besides the usual car show, bake sale and kids games, organizers are actually bringing history to life. Saturday features a cemetery walk with actors of Grand Meadow’s most influential people at 11 a.m., an Abraham Lincoln speaker at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall at 12:30 and 2 p.m., and a vintage baseball game at 6 p.m.

Meadowfest runs Friday through Sunday.

But it’s not all about history at this year’s celebration.

Among continuing events like a car show, mud bog, and dozens of kids’ games — committee members have spent seven years bringing in some of the most interesting events they could find.

The parade will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Grand Meadow won’t stay quiet after Meadow Fest, as the town will host a fireworks display on the Fourth of July.