COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) — Cook Forest State Park will host a series of living history events depicting life during the French & Indian War.

(Photos by Darren Troese)

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, renowned 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 18th century.

Saturday, June 10

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Event Open

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray: story-teller, blacksmith & Clarion County’s #1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Native Cooking Demonstration – by Elizabeth Huxford-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the Native Camp in the main encampment site

10:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom

10:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accouterments? 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.

11:00 a.m. to 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. to 12:00 p.m. – Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the Old Sawmill Classroom

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – ‘Indian Treaties Printed by Benjamin Franklin: 1732-1762’ by Paul Stillman, noted living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater (free, but donations towards the event gladly accepted)

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – 18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller, blacksmith & Clarion County’s #1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market

3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Cannon Demo & Mad Minute Competition — by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Photo by Darren Troese.

Sunday, June 11

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Event Open

9:30 a.m. to 9:45 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. to 11:00 a.m. – Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller, blacksmith & Clarion County’s #1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market

10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – 18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom

10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accouterments? 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.

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – In Defense of the Homeland– morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray: story-teller, blacksmith & Clarion County’s #1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market

2:00 p.m. to 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. to 3:00 p.m. – Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

The Sawmill Theatre is located at 170 Sawmill Lane in Cooksburg.

For more information, contact the Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts at 814-927-6655 or info@sawmill.org.