Residents in coastal St. Marys plan on celebrating their city's role in the War of 1812 this Saturday.

The area saw Georgia's only battle in the war often called America's Second War of Independence.

Event organizer Cheri Richter says, she hopes this is the start of a three year tourism push related the war.

"There's a lot of interest in this," Richter says. "We are trying to attract people from other places, not just here. So, we will see how it goes."

The war lasted three years ending in 1815, when 90 Georgia soldiers fought 1,000 Redcoats in St. Marys.

Richter estimates 10,000 people will come for battle re-enactments, as part of the city's Mardi Gras festival.

Tags: St. Marys, GPB News, Cheri Richter, Spirit of 1812 Committee, War of 1812, Mardi Gras