Midwest Rendezvous

Rendezvous are a popular tourist destination in the Midwest. Each Spring, a large rendezvous is held at Fort Des Chartres, in southwest Illinois near the banks of the Mississippi river. In early Fall, a rendezvous is held on the Des Plaines river just outside of Chicago. In West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Perdue University, a huge rendezvous has been held annually for 44 years. Called "The Feast of the Hunter's Moon" this event attracts hundreds of enactors who dress in 18th century clothing, camp, cook, and entertain roughly 50,000 spectators. There are Buffalo burgers, roasted corn, home made root beer, corn bread and other munchies. A variety of hand-made items appropriate to 18th century trade goods fill tents along with racks of clothing the stylish French voyageur, colonial lass, British soldier, colonial militia and Native American might wear. Blacksmiths hammer iron into useful tools. The air is filled with ancient songs once sung by Voyageurs, the haunting sounds of hammer dulcimers and the military music of Drum and Fife Corps.