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Cook Forest French & Indian War Encampment

100 RT 36, Cooksburg, PA 16217-0120

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 7

1000am-600pm    Event Open          

                       

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

 

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.

 

1100am-1130am  Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

 

1130am-1200pm Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

 

100pm-200pm     Nasty Ned the Frontiersmen: 18th Century Teller of Tales & Historical Fact’- by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, 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

 

300pm-600pm     Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials

 

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

 

 

Sunday, June 8 

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

Sunday, June 8, 2025 9am to 4:30pm