METROPOLIS, Ill. -- This year's Fort Massac Encampment will be a big one.

"We'll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the encampment," said Debby Watkins of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which sponsors the annual two-day event at Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis.

This year is also the 90th anniversary of the state park, the first in Illinois. It was dedicated in 1908.

As many as 125,000 visitors are expected to crowd into the town of 7,500 for the event on Saturday and Sunday. As many as 80,000 to 100,000 people have attended in recent years. Last year 115,000 people showed up.

The program features re-enactors, musicians, crafters, and interpretive videos, all designed to pay tribute to Illinois' frontier history.

The original fort at the site was constructed 225 years ago, in 1763, by the French during the French and Indian War. The site came under U.S. control in 1778 and was rebuilt to protect U.S. military and commercial interests in the Ohio River Valley.

This weekend's attraction features authentically uniformed military re-enactors; working crafts people; musical melodies played by bagpipers, fifes and drums; and foods of an earlier era. Also included on the schedule are 18th century children's games, a children's puppet show, and a ladies' tea to be held in the Living History Museum.

The festivities start at 10 a.m. each day with a posting of the colors at the fort.

The Saturday scheduled includes evening fireworks and a canon salute.

Re-enactors will represent different time periods and areas in early Illinois history, said Watkins. French, British, Spanish and American soldiers and Indians will engage in mock battles and tactical demonstrations each day.

"The battles do not depict any specific battle," said Watkins. "But the battles do depict how a typical battle of those times might have looked."

Visitors can view military camps and talk with buckskinners and other crafts people.

The people and activities of the encampment give a good picture of this area from about 1750 to the early 1800s, said Watkins.

Fort Massac State Park is in Metropolis between Highway 45 and the Ohio River. It includes an interpretive center and old forts high on the banks of the river. Most of the camping facilities are full for the weekend except for an overflow area for self-sustained camping vehicles.

The park's facilities also include a large picnic area, shower building and playgrounds. Two trails are available for hiking: a half-mile loop through the park and a 2.5-mile Hickory Nut Ridge Trail along the river.

The British occupied the site during the Revolutionary War but did not rebuild the fort. When the site came under U.S. control the fort was rebuilt.

The fort and site are maintained by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Special weekend living history events are held at the fort throughout the year.

The park is the second most-visited park in the state park system. During the Christmas season, the park is host to "Hometown Christmas," featuring an illuminated holiday light display from Nov. 27 through Dec. 31.