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 13
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-130pm American Indian Relations: French vs English - Witness a high spirited discussion between British & French forces on the differences between how they managed their relationships with various American Indian tribes. By the camp Corps of Reenactors, along the Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site.
100pm-200pm Dances of the 18th Century - Join us at the Sawmill Theater to learn about one of early America’s lost social pastimes, dancing. We will demonstrate some of these dances and invite you to participate at the end to learn George Washington’s favorite dance! By Addisen Noel & the Hickory Creek Dancers
200pm-300pm 18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel family, Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
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
800pm-900pm Echoes of Excellence: Harpsichord Music from the Courts of King Louis the XIV & XVI - by Aaron Grabowski, Compagnie LeBoeuf artillerist & musician, at the Sawmill Theater
Sunday, June 14
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 the Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
1130am-1200pm In Defense of the Homeland - Morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail
1230pm-100pm Citizen’s Drill - We’re looking for a few good men to fight for King Louis! Opposable teeth required. By Nick Bolla, Compagnie LeBoeuf, meet at the water tower in the main encampment site near Black Bear Trail
1230pm-200pm Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market
1230pm-115pm An Afternoon with Ben Franklin - Join one of the founding fathers of our country as he reminisces about science, philosophy, and his involvement in the French & Indian forts of the 1750’s. By Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater.
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