Cook Forest State Park will host a series of living history events depicting life during the French & Indian War. Highlights of this full two-day encampment include woodland natives, cannon and musket firing, cooking, primitive skills, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, pottery, children’s games, sutler camp, renown living historians, French & Indian War Era artisans, and live tactical engagements. Every battle is different! Take a walk back in time along the Black Bear Trail by the Sawmill Center for the Arts during open camp hours to view British, Colonial, French, and Native American re-enactors as they portray lifestyles of the 18th century.
Saturday, June 7
1000am-600pm Event Open
1000am-1100am Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray, across from Sawmill Craft Market
1000am-400pm Cooking Demonstration – by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
1030pm-500pm French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom
1030pm-500pm Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements? Meet tinsmiths, cordwainers, leather workers, cooks, gunsmiths, clothiers, weapons outfitters, and gourd makers in the long field on your right as you come into the main Sawmill entrance.
1100am-1130am Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration – by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
1130am-1200pm Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
100pm-200pm Nasty Ned the Frontiersmen: 18th Century Teller of Tales & Historical Fact’– by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater
200pm-300pm 18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
300pm-600pm Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop – by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials
300pm-500pm Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market
330pm-400pm Cannon & Musket Firing Demo – by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
400pm-430pm Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
Sunday, June 8
900am-330pm Event Open
900am-930am 18th Century Sunday Service by Rick Sanguigni of ’Friends of Dennis Murray’, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail
930am-1100am Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market
930am-300pm French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators Meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom
930pm-300pm Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements? Meet tinsmiths, cordwainers, leather workers, cooks, gunsmiths, clothiers, weapons outfitters, and gourd makers in the long field on your right as you come into the main Sawmill entrance.
1015am-1045am 18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
1100am-200pm Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication – by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $15 for materials
1130am-1200pm In Defense of the Homeland– morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail
1230pm-200pm Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market
200pm-230pm Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
230pm-300pm Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom