If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.


– Rudyard Kipling

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20th Annual Cook Forest French & Indian War Encampment

June 8 @ 10:00 AM - June 9 @ 3:30 PM

20th Annual Cook Forest French & Indian War Encampment

Cook Forest State Park will host a series of living history events depicting life during the French & Indian War.  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, renown 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 8

1000am-600pm     Event Open

1000am-1100am     Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray, across from Sawmill Craft Market

1000am-1200pm     Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication – by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $15 for materials

1000am-400pm     Cooking Demonstration – by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

1030pm-500pm     French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom

1030pm-500pm     Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase?  Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements?  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.

1130am-1215pm     Confrontation at the Forks:  The Ohio Company Fort and its Surrender – treaty and fort surrender engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the Old Sawmill Classroom

100pm-200pm     Stoffel Stump: The Man Who Walked with Conrad Weiser – by Richard Pawling nationally renowned living historian from History Alive! at the Sawmill Theater

200pm-300pm    18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

200pm-500pm     Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop – by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials

230pm-330pm     The Opportunity to Meet the Character Within the Character – by Richard Pawling nationally renowned living historian from History Alive! At the new Sawmill Classroom

300pm-500pm     Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

330pm-400pm     Cannon & Musket Firing Demo  – by the camp Corps of  Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

400pm-430pm     Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

800pm-900pm     An Evening to Be Remembered: Stoeffel & His Son Frederick Will Take You on a Journey to be Remembered – by Richard Pawling nationally renowned living historian from History Alive! at the Sawmill Theater

Sunday, June 9

900am-330pm     Event Open

900am-930am     18th Century Sunday Service – by Rick Sanguigni of ’Friends of Dennis Murray’, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

930am-1100am     Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

930am-300pm     French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators  – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom

930pm-300pm     Sutler Row Demonstrators – Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase?   Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements?  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.

1015am-1045am     18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main  encampment site

1100am-200pm Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication – by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $15 for materials

1130am-1200pm     In Defense of the Homeland– morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

1230pm-200pm     Blacksmithing Demonstration – by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

200pm-230pm     Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration –  by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

230pm-300pm     Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Cooks Forest State Park

113 River Road
Cooksburg, PA 16217 United States