38th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres June 7 & 8

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER -- The Midwest's largest gathering of 1700s era soldiers, settlers, traders and campers, the 38th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site near Prairie du Rocher.

Rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, an 18th century fashion show, black powder shooting events, cannon firings and more from the time when France controlled what is now the State of Illinois. All activities are free and open to the public, and many feature public participation. The event is cosponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Les Coureur de Bois de Fort de Chartres.

Each day's activities begin with the Opening Ceremony and Posting of Colours at 10 a.m. The Retreat Ceremony ends each day's activities at 4:30 p.m. Father Rafi, St. Joseph's Church, Prairie du Rocher, will lead Mass at Fort de Chartres Chapel at 8 a.m. Sunday, June 8.

Rendezvous is famous for its period shooting and military competitions. Saturday will feature rifle aggregate and smoothbore competition from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New this year will be a Primitive Archery shoot from 10 a. m. to noon both days. Knife and hawk throwing competition will be held both days from noon to 3 p.m., and La Grande Cannon Fusillade (The Big Cannon Shootout) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. The fort's cannon will be fired hourly, preceded by an instruction in the art of cannon firing by the French Colonial Artillerie. Also new this year will be an 18th century military tactical demonstration with a Native American parley, which will take place on the rifle range at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Scores of period artisan and craft demonstrations will include pottery, blacksmithing, silversmithing, coopering, pewter casting, felt making, silk ribbon embroidery, weaving, woodworking, basketry, treenware making, silhouette cutting, and cordwaining. Many items will be for sale.

Street entertainers will roam the fort area both days. The Amazing Budabi Brothers will juggle "anything that's not nailed down" in their brand of period entertainment fun.

Period music and dance will be offered both days. The popular Traveler's Dream returns this year. They will be joined by: The String Connection from Prairie du Rocher; Great River Fife and Drum Corps; Tippecanoe Ancient Fife & Drum Corps; La Guiannee Singers; The Peacocks; Booneslick Strings; The Campfollowers Band; Lewis and Clark Fife & Drum Corps; Les Grenouille Dansante; and the 42nd Royal Highlanders Band of Pipes, Fifes & Drums.

Re-enactors will portray a 1700s French patron, or river trader, in the Fort's storage loft; and French Marines from Fort de Chartres and Fort Toulouse, Alabama in the Guard Room. Marines will also be stationed at the fort's gate to welcome visitors and guard the fort much as they did in the 1750s.

The Primitive Lifeways area east of the Fort will feature archery demonstrations and competition. Madeleines, an 18th century French cookie, will be baked in the fort's beehive oven by members of the Randolph County Historical Society.

The River Gate Food Court will feature a variety of period food, drink and musical entertainment under a large tent. A period dance for participants and visitors will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday inside the fort.

The Historic Creole House in Prairie du Rocher will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days for tours. Sponsored by the Randolph County Historical Society, the tours feature an updated history of the house including oil paintings of the Henri family from the 1850s. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Those who utilize the special event parking area near Fort de Chartres will be charged $5 per car and $10 per bus. There will be no modern camping facilities.

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.Illinois-History.gov), is located four miles west of Prairie du Rocher and 37 miles south of Belleville. Take Route 3 to Route 155 and follow the signs. For more information call (618) 284-7230, email ftdchart@htc.net, or visit www.ftdechartres.com on the web.

A detailed schedule of events follows.

38th ANNUAL RENDEZVOUS AT FORT DE CHARTRES
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JUNE 7 AND 8, 2008
Scheduled Events Both Days
10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony & Posting of Colours W. Malcolm Duncan, Drum Major
10:30 a.m. French Marines of Fort de Chartres, drilling (Parade Ground)
10:30 a.m. The Peacocks Band (Stage)
11:00 a.m. Sheep dog demonstration, in front of fort
11:00 a.m. Boonslick Strings - traditional music (Stage)
11:30 a.m. Great River Fife and Drum Corps - Godfrey, Illinois
12:00 noon Lewis & Clark Fife & Drum Corps
12:30 p.m. Traveler's Dream - Back this year! (Stage)
1:00 p.m. "Meet the Natives" Native American Fashion Show (Stage)
1:30 p.m. Les Grenouille Dansante (Prairie du Rocher dancers), near stage
1:30 p.m. Sheep dog demonstration, east of fort
1:45 p.m. La Guiannee - Traditional French New Year's Song (Stage)
1:45 p.m. String Connection - Prairie du Rocher traditional music (Stage)
2:00 p.m. Tippecanoe Ancient Fife & Drum Corps - Lafayette, Indiana
2:30 p.m. 42nd Royal Highlanders Band of Pipes, Fifes, & Drums
3:00 p.m. The Peacocks (behind Museum)
3:00 p.m. The Campfollowers Band (stage)
3:30 p.m. String Connection - Prairie du Rocher traditional music (Stage)
4:00 p.m. Traveler's Dream - French Colonial Music (Stage)
4:30 p.m. Retreat Ceremony


BOTH DAYS: The Peacocks Band, Booneslick Strings and Campfollowers Band will perform period music at various locations. The Primitive Lifeways Area will feature archery demonstrations and competition. Cannon firing demonstrations occur hourly. Working oxen and sheep dog demonstrations will occur periodically east of the fort.

Scheduled Events on Saturday or Sunday Only

Saturday, June 7

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rifle Aggregate & Smoothbore Competition
10 a.m.- Noon Primitive Archery Competition
Noon - 3 p.m. Knife & Hawk Throw Competition
8 - 10 p.m. Dance for event participants and visitors inside the fort.

Sunday, June 8

8:00 a.m. Mass at Fort de Chartres Chapel
10 a.m. - Noon Primitive Archery Competition
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. La Grande Cannon Fusillade (The Big Cannon Shootout)
Noon - 3 p.m. Knife & Hawk Throw Competition
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. 18th Century Military Tactical with Native Parley (rifle range)