From staff reports
Cook Forest State Park will host a series of living history events depicting life during the French and Indian War from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11.
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 and 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.
The schedule of events for the weekend is:
Saturday, June 10
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Event hours
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray: story-teller, blacksmith and Clarion County’s No. 1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market
10 a.m.-4 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.-5 p.m.: French and Indian War era art and demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom
10:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Sutler Row Ddmonstrators – 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.
11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Cannon and 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.-Noon: Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the Old Sawmill Classroom
1 p.m.-2 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 p.m.-3 p.m.: 18th Century Children’s Games – by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
3 p.m.-5 p.m.: Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller, blacksmith and Clarion County’s No. 1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market
4 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
Sunday, June 11
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Event hours
9:30 a.m.-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.-11 a.m.: Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray, story-teller, blacksmith and Clarion County’s No. 1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: French and Indian War era art and demonstrators – meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom
9:30 p.m.-3 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 & 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.
10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: 18th Century children’s games – by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site
11:30 a.m.- noon: In Defense of the Homeland morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.: Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration – by Dennis Murray: story-teller, blacksmith and Clarion County’s No. 1 liar, across from Sawmill Craft Market
2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.: Cannon and 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 p.m.: Peril in the Forest – tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom
For more information contact the Cook Forest State Park at 814-744-8407 or visit the DCNR website for Cook Forest at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CookForestStatePark/Pages/default.aspx