2023 Events
I'm continuing to add events as I receive them or verify them. If you know dates for events in 2023 or 2024, please let me know by emailing them to me at Vicki@RendezvousOhio.com ... 

This list includes events that take place in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Please note: Illinois weekend events have been added this year because of numerous requests. If you have any to add, please email them to Vicki@RendezvousOhio.com.

Click here for national/regional events that are at least five days long.
 
Sept. 22-30, 2023 - NRLHF Eastern Primitive Rendezvous, 2911 Stoney Run Road, Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania 16350. Contact Vennie Hotchkiss, 814-706-9169, vennie16350@gmail.com,
www.easternprimitiverendezvous.com. Early setup is Sept. 20-21. Public days 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 23-24. School day Sept. 26. Pre-registration deadline past. Pre-registration fees are $60 per adult for NMLRA members; $70 for non-members. Children ages 17 and younger are free. Registration at the gate is $85 per person for NMLRA members and $95 for non-members. Non-registered campers pay a $5 per day early setup fee. No trader fee, except camp registration, but traders must mark the form as a trader. Registration refunds must be requested in writing at least 21 days before the event begins. No refunds after the event. No pets; NRLHF follows ADA regulations. For more details on fees and rules, visit www.nrlhf.org.

Sept. 23-24, 2023 - Life in Early Ohio, Fort Meigs, 29100 W. River Road, Perrysburg, Ohio. Contact 419-874-4121, www.fortmeigs.org/events. Juried event. Pre-registration required; walk-ins will be turned away. Participants must take part in at least one scheduled activity each day. Check-in starts at noon Friday. Everyone ages 16 and older must check in. Lantern tour 7-10 p.m. Friday. Saturday evening dinner provided.

Sept. 23-24, 2023 - Michigan Antique Arms Collectors Inc., 46100 Grand River, Novi, Michigan 48374. Contact Greg Zemsta, 248-556-6590, mauserman98@hotmail.com, www.michiganantiquearms.com. Guns and accoutrements, Native artifacts, knives, relics and similar items. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Members admitted at 8 a.m.

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2023 - Vermilion Creek Colonial Gathering, 11854 Peacock Rd, Laingsburg, Michigan 48848. Contact 517-651-9193. Register at vermilioncreek@gmail.com or qrshighlandcompany@gmail.com. Setup starts at noon Friday. Cannon and military drills, battle, surgeon, cooking, sutler's row, frontier trading post trading with Native Americans of the Great Lakes region.

Oct. 5-8, 2023 - Michigan Living History Encounters, Kenn Kuester Memorial Event, Joyce Park, Grand Ledge, Michigan. Contact Sara Keller, 269-788-2027, firesidelivinghistory@gmail.com. Register requested by Aug. 1, and required by Sept. 1. Potential school day Thursday. Educators Day Friday for homeschool and classroom groups. Event in conjunction with Grand Ledge Fall Festival Saturday. Founders Day Sunday. Public hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

Oct. 6-8, 2023 - Seneca Muzzleloaders Fall Rendezvous, Sandusky River Coon Hunters grounds, 7575 TR 131, Tiffin, Ohio 44883. Contact Rob Gerding, 419-341-8657, robbob@hush.com. Black powder shoot, archery, hawk and knife, children’s games, potluck Saturday evening. Registration is $25. Setup after 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday. No pets.

Oct. 7-8, 2023 - American Heritage Days at South Park, 100 Brinkerhoff Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio. Sponsored by Richland Early American Center for History. Contact Anthony Seal, 217-264-2704 (leave voicemail) or email seal2058@yahoo.com. Set up Thursday evening or Friday. Friday is a Food Truck Festival for townspeople as they watch the official opening and camp set-up. Water, wood, restroom facilities and a food truck will be on site for Saturday and Sunday. Grounds feature an 1808 log cabin with Rumford fireplace and baking oven, an original 1812 Blockhouse and a late 18th/early 19th-century blacksmith/woodworking shop. Dance Saturday evening with period musicians. Camp breakfast Saturday and Sunday before the event. Details will be given upon arrival. No camp fee. No merchant fee. Take down camp Sunday evening or Monday. Public hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Oct. 12-15, 2023 - Harvest Moon Rendezvous, Infirmary Mound Park, 4351 Lancaster Road, Granville, Ohio. Contact Mat Stickles 740-403-1372, mathew.stickles@gmail.com, or Jason Vermlion, 740-258-8962, vermilionjason@yahoo.com. Pre-1840 event. Setup is Thursday. Rendezvous starts at 9 a.m. Thursday. Camp fee is $10. Vendors camp free. Trade blankets welcome. Public days 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Walk-in shooters welcome, but period dress is required. Rifle and smoothbore woodswalk, hawk & knife, archery, fire starting with re-entry, pistol match is blanket shoot.  Saturday evening potluck with auction to follow. No pets.

Oct. 13-14, 2023 - Early American Trades Fair, Log Cabin Shop, 8010 Lafayette Rd, Lodi, Ohio 44254. Contact 330-948-1082, logcabin@logcabinahop.com, www.logcabinshop.com. This year's event will focus on demonstrations of early American trades such as powder horn making, forging, leather work, furniture making, gun building, barrel rifling, candle dipping, flint knapping, quilting. Handcrafted items for sale and trade. Free admission. Food available. Open noon-6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Oct. 13-15, 2023 - Girty's Town Rendezvous, north of the High Street bridge along the canal, St. Marys, Ohio. Contact Harold Curry, 419-295-2710, hcurry23@gmail.com, Facebook page. Camp fee $15. Beginners and veterans welcome. Nature walk Sunday. Archery and hawk & knife competitions. Blacksmith available. Camp dinner Saturday.

Oct. 13-15, 2023 - Mississinewa 1812, Mississinewa Battlefield, Marion, Indiana. Contact
 www.mississinewa1812.com, 765-573-3033, info@mississinewa1812.com. Largest War of 1812 event in North America commemorates the Battle of Mississinewa. Juried event. Military encampment, Indian village, Rivertown, wilderness area. Commemoration of battle fought Dec. 17-18, 1812. Public hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission. GPS address: 6000 N 300 W27, La Fontaine, Indiana.
 
Oct. 13-15, 2023 - Morgan County Rendezvous, east of Martinsville, Indiana, on Bear Creek Road, at the Thunder Creek Longrifle Range, Morgantown, Indiana. Contact Facebook page. Competitions Friday, Saturday and Sunday include archery, rifle, smoothbore, pistol, hawk & knife as well as Schuetzen match. Camp and shooting fee $20 per adult. Ages 17 and younger included in adult fee. Walk-in shooting fee (in period attire) $20. Campers should provide their own water. Modern camping available. No pets.

Oct. 13-15, 2023 - Fall Rendezvous, Dogg Clan Muzzleloaders, 323 N. State Line Road, Darlington, Pennsylvania. Contact Papa John, 330-853-4522, or Dan, 727-312-6713. Take your own drinking water. Shoots. Public day Saturday.

Oct. 13-15, 2023 - Fort Obie Rendezvous and Living History Encampment, Steve Kaiser Farm, 817 Cleveland Road, Colona, Illinois. Contact Nick Hopper, 515-577-9566, or Jeff Hopper, 515-729-3479. Friday school day 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Shoots, archery, hawk & knife, demonstrations , trade goods, music. Public hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

Oct. 19-22, 2023 - Thunder Creek Longrifles Rendezvous, east of Martinsville, Indiana, on Bear Creek Road, Morgantown, Indiana. Contact Thundercreek1972@gmail.com, 812-785-6166, https://thundercreeklongrifles.org. Setup Thursday. Competitions Friday, Saturday and Sunday include archery, rifle, smoothbore, pistol, hawk & knife. Aggregate of Saturday and Sunday competitions. Friday novelty shoot and Schuetzen match are separate. Camp and shooting fee $20 per family plus $2 for Schuetzen. Walk-in shooting fee (in period attire) $20. Campers should provide their own water. Pitch-in dinner Saturday night. Per tradition, club will supply meat. RSVP for meal.

Oct. 20-22, 2023 - ​Salt Festival, Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, 3380 Beaver Road, Union, Kentucky 41091. Contact Melissa Lohman, mlohman513@gmail, 513-266-3627, Facebook page. New vendor information this year. Contact Greta Gay, 859-384-3522. Early setup is Thursday. School day Friday. Open to public 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Oct. 21-22, 2023 - Sons of Liberty Fall Rendezvous, Canters Cave 4-H Camp, 1362 Caves Road, Jackson, Ohio. Contact Norman Garringer, 740-773-3891, normanga@roadrunner.com. Pre-1840 rendezvous with black powder shoot, hawk and knife and primitive archery competitions. Potluck dinner Saturday night for paid campers only. Friendly event and newbies welcome.

Oct. 21-22, 2023 - Thunder Creek Long Rifles Rendezvous, Bear Creek Road, Martinsville, Indiana. Contact Glenn McClain, 812-598-5885, thundercreek
1972@gmail.com, 812-785-6166. Camp and shooting fee $20 per family, plus $2 schuetzen. Walk-in shooter fee $20; must be in pre-1840 garb. Pitch-in dinner Saturday with club supplying meat. Archery, rifle, smoothbore, pistol, aggregate, hawk & knife, schuetzen match.

Oct. 26-29, 2023 - Greene County Fish & Game Fall Rendezvous, 1538 Union Road, Xenia, Ohio 45385. Contact James Moody, 937-805-9313. Camp fee. No extra fee for traders. Competitions include shoots, archery, hawk & knife, pastry toss.

Oct. 27-29, 2023 - ​18th-Century Market Fair, Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane, Riverwood, Kentucky 40207. Contact Kaitlyn Tisdale, 502-897-9845, ktisdale@locustgrove.org, www.locustgrove.org. Juried event portraying 1776-1780. Reenactor registration at the website. Public hours 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
 
Nov. 2-5, 2023 - Pathways Women's Rendezvous, Fort La Buse, Belleville, Ohio. Women only. Theme is "Fall Harvest in Early America." Beginners welcome. Contact Barb Dailey, 419-378-5861. Inside accommodations available by reservation. Registration deadline Oct. 1. Camp fee is $30, or $35 at the gate. Setup Thursday; no early arrivals. Thursday supper provided. Seminars and workshops. Competitions. Cooking contest.

Nov. 4-5, 2023 - Fort de Chartres Winter Encampment and Woods Walk, Prairie du Rocher, Illinois 62277. Contact 618-284-7230, lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail.com, www.fortdechartres.us. Features 18th and early 19th-century camp life 1700-1820. Muzzleloader woods walk shooting competition, hand-made crafts, period music and food. Soldiers, trappers, traders and Native Americans.

Nov. 25-26, 2023 - Michigan Antique Arms Collectors Inc., 46100 Grand River, Novi, Michigan 48374. Contact Greg Zemsta, 248-556-6590, mauserman98@hotmail.com, www.michiganantiquearms.com. Guns and accoutrements, Native artifacts, knives, relics and similar items. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Members admitted at 8 a.m.


2024 events
 
Jan. 17-28, 2024 - Alafia River Rendezvous, 1000 Old Fort Meade Road, Homeland, Fla. Mailed pre-registration must be postmarked by Dec. 1. For pre-registration instructions, visit www.alafiariverrendezvous.org/2023-alafia-preregistration-info or contact Sherri Cox, 321-536-2438, registrar@alafiariverrendezvous.org. For event information, contact Alan and D’Lise Rayl, booshway@alafiariverrendezvous.org. Visitors days Jan. 26-27. Pre-registration fee is $60 per adult ages 18 and older, or $70 at the gate. No pets. Competitions include shoots, hawk & knife, archery. Also seminars, games and entertainment.
 
March 2-3, 2024 - Old Town Trade Fair, Assembly Hall, Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Road, Xenia, Ohio. Contact Tim and Sharon Milligan, stitchersm@aol.com, 937-857-9745 or Facebook page. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission $4 per person; children 11 and younger free. Food available on site. Reenactors, dealers, collectors, educators, craftsmen and history buffs welcome. Wares must 1700-1890 originals or reproductions.
 
March 9-17, 2024 - Southwestern Regional Rendezvous, Mineral Wells, Texas. Contact Two Otters, 817-629-9297, twootterstall.yahoo.com. Facebook page,  www.facebook.com/southwesternrendezvous.       Camp fees if registered before Feb. 9 are $30 ages 13 and older, $5 ages 12 and younger, $20 for mug, $10 per medallion, $75 for trader and $50 for blanket trader. Trader fees include one adult. Add $10 to adult and trader fees after that date. Early setup March 6-8. Long term and short term camp, modern camp. Public days March 9-10 and 16. Competitions include shoots, archery, hawk & knife, cooking contest, Highland games, kids' games, seminars, camp feast.
 
March 16-17, 2024 - Kalamazoo Living History Show, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sponsored by Yankee Doodle Muzzle Loaders Inc. Contact Leslie Martin Conwell, 765-563-6792, kalamazoolivinghistoryshow@gmail.com, www.KalamazooShow.com. The largest juried show in the Midwest devoted to pre-1890 original or reproduction living history supplies, accoutrements and related crafts. Also, educational programs, craft demonstrations and children's activities. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Vendors are invited to email kalamazoolivinghistoryshow@gmail.com for an application.
 
May 3-5, 2024 - Five Medals at The Trace, Stone's Trace, 5111 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, Indiana 46767. Contact fivemedals1812@gmail.com for an application. Juried event, 1750-1815. Event focused on demonstration and education. Well-known presenters, demonstrators and merchants. Skirmish. Friday student education day. Public hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday.