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 18^th 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 18^th 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