Press Release - Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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37th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres June 2 & 3
37th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres
June 2 & 3
PRAIRIE DU ROCHER -- The Midwest's largest gathering of 1700s era soldiers, settlers, traders and campers, the 37th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, 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. Reverend Albert Kreher, St. Joseph's Church, Prairie du Rocher, will lead Mass at Fort de Chartres Chapel at 8 a.m. Sunday, June 3.
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. 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. The fort's cannon will be fired hourly, preceded by an instruction in the art of cannon firing by the French Colonial Artillerie and the Royal British Artillery.
Scores of period artisan and craft demonstrations will include pottery,
blacksmithing, silversmithing, coopering, pewter casting, felt making, silk ribbon embroidery, weaving, woodworking, basketry, hornsmithing, gunsmithing, 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.
Reenactors 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. Fort de Chartres volunteers will be located in the Powder Magazine.
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.
Rendezvous isn't all buckskin and muskets. "Fads and Fancies," an 18th century fashion show hosted by Ted Mueller, returns at 1 p.m. both days on the stage. Ladies and gentlemen will model garments from the 1700s, from the simple to the fancy and from the practical to the outrageous.
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.
The Ste. Genevieve/Modoc Ferry will operate throughout Rendezvous weekend. The ferry will run between Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and the Illinois side of the river from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 1; from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 2; and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 3. Fees are $7 per car or pickup truck ($12 round trip) or $12 if towing a trailer. The charge is $25 for school or tour buses.
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.
37th ANNUAL RENDEZVOUS AT FORT DE CHARTRES
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JUNE 2 AND 3, 2007
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. Fads & Fancies - 18th Century Fashion Show (Stage)
Ted Mueller, Commentator
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. Colonial Fife & Drum Corps - Alton, Illinois
4:00 p.m. Traveler's Dream - French Colonial Music (Stage)
4:00 p.m. The Peacocks Band (stage)
4:30 p.m. Retreat Ceremony
BOTH DAYS: The Peacocks, the Boonslick Strings and the Campfollowers will perform period music at various locations. The Primitive Lifeways Area will feature archery demonstrations and competition. Cannon firing demonstrations occur on the hour. Working oxen and sheep dog demonstrations will occur periodically east of the fort.
Scheduled Events on Saturday or Sunday Only
Saturday, June 2
Scheduled Events on Saturday or Sunday Only
Saturday, June 2
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rifle Aggregate & Smoothbore Competition
Noon - 3 p.m. Knife & Hawk Throw Competition
8 - 10 p.m. A dance for event participants and visitors will be held inside the fort.
Sunday, June 3
Sunday, June 3
8:00 a.m. Mass at Fort de Chartres Chapel
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. La Grande Cannon Fusillade (The Big Cannon Shootout)
Noon - 3 p.m. Knife & Hawk Throw Competition
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