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.

Schedule:

Saturday, June 7

10:00am-6:00pm
Event Open

10:00am-11:00am
Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray, across from Sawmill Craft Market

10:00am-4:00pm
Cooking Demonstration - by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

10:30pm-5:00pm
French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators - meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom

10:30pm-5:00pm
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.

11:00am-11:30am
Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

11:30am-12:00pm
Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

1:00pm-2:00pm
Nasty Ned the Frontiersmen: 18th Century Teller of Tales & Historical Fact’- by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater

2:00pm-3:00pm
18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

3:00pm-6:00pm
Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials

3:00pm-5:00pm
Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

3:30pm-4:00pm
Cannon & Musket Firing Demo - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

4:00pm-4:30pm
Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom