COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – The Sawmill Center for the Arts is gearing up for an exciting weekend where they will host the seventeenth annual French and Indian War Encampment Reenactment.
Volunteers from across the Commonwealth will be gathering in Cook Forest as they attempt to portray eighteenth-century British, Colonial, French, and Native American lifestyles and war tactics used during the French and Indian war.
This two-day encampment includes highlights such as cannon and musket firing demonstrations, woodland natives, children’s programs, sutler camp, council and trading events, and live tactical engagements where every battle is different.
Multiple nationally renowned living historians will also be in attendance.
The volunteers will also do demonstrations in 18th-century blacksmithing, turkey wing bone call fabrication, cooking, art, cannon and musket firing, and more.
The event will take place at Cook Forest State Park, 113 River Road, Cooksburg and is free to the public.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Saturday, June 9
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Event Open
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from Sawmill Craft Market
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Sinew Processing – by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the old Sawmill Classroom ($10 for materials)
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cooking Demonstration – by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
10:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration – by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Surgical Techniques – by Jack Mathay Compagnie LeBeouf surgeon, at the NEW Sawmill Classroom
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Conrad Weiser: In the Steps of a Peacekeeper – by Richard Pawling, a renowned living historian from History Alive!, at the Sawmill Theater (free, but donations towards the event will be accepted)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Children’s Games – by Jen Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Parasols: A Decorating Workshop – by Bonnie Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the old Sawmill Classroom ($15)
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from the Sawmill Craft Market
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Powderhorn & Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication – by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom ($15 for materials)
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration — by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ‘1737: Going to Onondaga on the Path of Peace’ by Richard Pawling, a renowned living historian from History Alive! at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom (free, but donations towards the event will be accepted)
Sunday, June 10
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Event Open
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. 18th Century Sunday Service – by the 42nd Highland Regiment, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from the Sawmill Craft Market
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Children’s Musket Drill – by camp Corps of Re-enactors, at the water tower along Black Bear Trail
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Powderhorn & Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication – by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking, in the old Sawmill Classroom ($15 for materials)
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration – by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 18th Century Surgical Techniques – by Jack Mathay, Company LeBeouf surgeon, at the NEW Sawmill Classroom
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from the Sawmill Craft Market
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration – by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
Details regarding the event and a full schedule of all presentations can be found here.