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Rendezvous
In 2008, the camping for participants at the Spring Rendezvous (May 9-11) is free. There will be water available. Wood and ice will be available for purchase. We plan to have a muzzle loaded shooting range available. For other rendezvous event ideas or further information, please call Larry Daily at (217) 549-7134.
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What is a rendezvous? In the days of Western fur trappers, a rendezvous was held at well-known landmarks or trading posts each spring. The trappers brought the furs they collected throughout the winter to trade and re-supply for the next season. Just as valuable, they met to catch up on the “news”, to party, to meet old friends and make new ones. Much like the days of the past, today’s rendezvous are about meeting and making new friends. However, most significantly, a rendezvous is about having a good time.
A rendezvous today can be small with a few camps or very large with hundreds of camps. The camp may be military, civilian, or both. Sometimes a certain period in history will be represented. Most often, a rendezvous will cover a time span from the 1750’s through the 1840’s. The first period covers the French-Indian War in colonial America. The next period is the Revolutionary War when the American colonies fought to free themselves from England’s control. Then came the War of 1812, again fighting the English that attacked the burned the capitol of Washington, D.C. The last time period is the fur trappers or mountain men western fur trade.
When visiting a rendezvous today, people often see re-enactors living in tents, teepees or sleeping under the stars. Traders sell many of the items needed for that particular way of life and sometimes things that you may be able to use at home or for play. Food is also a big part of rendezvous, and many vendors can be found at most gatherings. Demonstrations of many kinds may be seen in camp from blacksmiths, wood workers, gunsmiths, weaving, sewing, re-enactors playing period appropriate games and many more. Music is also very important to rendezvous life and can be heard everywhere in camp as it tells through song the rich history of the period.
The camps come in many shapes and sizes. The types of camps range from teepees lean-tos, wedges, wall tents and marquee tents. Marquee tents have high walls, a roof, and are most often used by traders that need a lot of room. A fly is a canvas roof with no sides often used for shade and is where a re-enactor may be found kicking back after a busy day. These are the homes used in years past by people on the move. They are also the homes of re-enactors while at camp. Each camper respects each other’s camp or “lodge” the same way one respects someone’s home. It is not polite to enter unless invited. If a tent is closed, and especially if the tent flap is tied, it is considered “locked”. It is never polite to walk into someone’s house and handle his or her belongings. The same respect should be shown when visiting a rendezvous camp. However, a person will find that most re-enactors are more than happy to explain how things are used or will even give a demonstration. And better yet, they may invite you in to tell a story or tall tale that will entertain and inform you about life in early America.
The clothes at camp are not costumes, they are real clothes. Most often they are handmade and very comfortable. The styles differ from one time period to another and from region to region. Another interesting fact about the clothing is that class or status plays a big part in what a person wears. By just looking at a re-enactors clothing, a lot can be determined about their role in the society of their time period.
Along with the clothing, the food at camp is real. Many times re-enactors are confronted with questions about the food they are preparing such as, “Is that a real fire?”, “Is that food real?” or “Are you going to eat that?” The answer is yes and there are many very good cooks in camp. Throughout camp, people are busy cooking their meals the way it was done for that specific time period. Some minor changes are made for safety reasons, but much of what is seen is a close representation of how meals were made long ago.
Many of the people you will see are armed. Guns, knives, tomahawks, war clubs and even walking sticks can be seen. Our founding fathers felt that each person was responsible for their own self defense. Even a gentleman or a minister would not be seen without at least a cane or a walking stick to protect themselves from some brigand that meant foul play. The weapons seen are real and are treated with the respect they deserve. Safety is first and foremost in all camps in order to ensure no one gets hurt or injured.
You may see re-enactors participating in – black powder shooting contests, primitive archery contests, and knife and hawk throwing contests. Please be careful when watching these contests. There are safety rules and trained range officers to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe. All these contests take skill and practice and can be fun and interesting competitions with friends.
Seminars are also a big part of many a rendezvous. They teach people about history and the people that lived it. A person that sits in on a few seminars may be surprised at what they can find out about life way back in the early years of America. The seminar and demonstration schedules can most often be found posted around camp.