ANNUAL RE-ENACTMENT PLANNED FOR RENDEZVOUS AT FORT DE CHARTRES

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, Ill. -- As many as 6,000 to 7,000 people will flood into this small community this weekend for the annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, an annual re-enactment of life on the 18th century frontier.

Visitors will be coming by ferry across Mississippi River, and by and highway to the two-day rendezvous, one of the largest gathering of 1700s-era soldiers, settlers, traders and campers in the Midwest.

Fort de Chartres is located four miles west of Prairie du Rocher, Ill., on State Route 155, which can be reached from the north or south via Route 3.

The Ste. Genevieve/Modoc Ferry will operate throughout the weekend. The ferry will run 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. between Ste. Genevieve, Mo. and the Illinois side of the river.

Fort de Chartres was a massive fortress built by the French in the Early 1700's. Its walls, 15 feet high and 3 feet thick, enclose approximately four acres and was the center of French control in the Illinois Country.

Two years after the Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War, the fort was surrendered to the British. After it was abandoned in 1772 the stone walls and buildings were gradually dismantled by area residents. The powder magazine was the only original structure still standing when the site was purchased by the State of Illinois in 1913. Today, portions of the walls and sentry boxes have been reconstructed. The museum contains many artifacts discovered during archaeological excavation at the site.

Each year Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres is held the first full weekend in June to recreate the traditional French fur trapper's holiday of the eighteenth-century, is one of the oldest and largest events of its kind in the nation today.

The rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, an 18th century fashion show, black powder shooting and cannon firings. The event is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

Each day will begin with an opening ceremony and posting of colors at 10 a.m. The Retreat Ceremony ends each day's activities at 4:30 p.m. Mass will be said at Fort de Chartres Chapel at 8 a.m. June 6.

Saturday's activities will feature rifle aggregate and smoothbore competition and knife and tomahawk throwing competitions.

The La Grande Cannon Fusillade -- the big cannon shoot-out -- will be held Sunday. The fort's cannon will be fired hourly, preceded in an instruction in the art of cannon firing by the 17th Illinois Territorial Rangers, French Colonial Artillerie, and a British artillery unit, which will be making its first appearance.

Period artisan and craft demonstrations will include pottery, blacksmithing, pewter casting, silk ribbon embroidery, weaver, gunsmithing and much more.

Music will be provided by a number of fife and drum corps.