EAGLE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A visit to Old World Wisconsin is always guaranteed to take you back in time to the 19th century. This Saturday, July 1, and Sunday, July 2, you can experience how Americans would've celebrated the 4th of July, with re-enactments, sports and other family activities.

"There's going to be a reading of the Declaration of Independence from, sort of, a town crier," said Chelsea Tegels Meyris, the education program coordinator for Old World Wisconsin. 

Leave your cellphone in your car and hop on a historic tricycle, play yard games like historic baseball or join a pie-eating contest. 

"It kind of peels back some of the elements that have become part of a more commercial, modern-day celebration," said Dan Freas,
director of Old World Wisconsin. "Gets back to the basics of how a community would've observed 4th of July in the past." 

If you can't make it out this weekend, you can come out all season to see what's new at Old World Wisconsin. The animal encounter exhibit recently opened, and it allows visitors to get up close to heritage breed farm animals.

"If not for place like Old World Wisconsin to work on conserving these breeds, we would lose them," said Freas. "Not only for their historical significance, but we would lose their genetic qualities that may be important down the road." 

Freas says they're also adding a walk-up bar that will be located in a restored 1930s Oconomowoc tavern. That is expected to be open by next summer. It's located next to the new brewery on the grounds.