2018 Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous
The 2018 Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous on September 7-9, 2018 at Rand City Park in Calico Rock, Arkansas is hosted by the Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center. Experience early American frontier life at the Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous as you visit the rendezvous camp and reenactors wearing period dress. Rendezvous activities include Knife & Tomahawk Throwing, Period Bow Making, Spinning, Mountain Man & Mountain Mama Competition, Trapping & Pelting Demonstration, Stew Cooking Competition, Authentic Vendors, Period Tents & Clothing.
Calico Rock Museum partners with the Early Arkansas Reenactors Association (EARA) to put on the rendezvou. The EARA members provide our encampment and demonstrate the everyday life skills of early settlers. Our Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous is a sanctioned event of the Early Arkansas Reenactors Association because it is authentic. This group of dedicated men and women take reenacting seriously. They camp in period tents, dress in period clothing, and they live for the week just like the early fur traders and settlers did.
Public Welcome – Free Admission
Calico Rock Rendezvous Hours:
Friday 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
On-Going Rendezvous Events & Demonstrations: Period Bow Making, Spinning, Knife & Tomahawk Throwing, Archery, Fire Starting
Raffle for Black Powder Kentucky Rifle
Must be present to win. Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets $1.00 (6 for $5.00); Purchase from Billy Bennett and Calico Rock Museum
Mountain Man “Cook-Offs”
Friday 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – “Stew-Off”
Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – “Dessert-Off”
Other Activities
Friday 5:00 p.m. Fashion Show
Saturday 11:00 a.m. Mountain Man & Mama Competition
Saturday 11:00 a.m. Walk of Rememberance
Saturday 5:00 p.m. Fashion Show
Calico Rock Rendezvous Gallery
Calico Rock Rendezvous Site
State Highway 5 at State Highway 56
Calico Rock, AR 72519
Directions: FROM HWY 5 North to Calico Rock (across the White River bridge) turn right on Walnut Street (at the True Value store). Turn left on Rand Hill Drive and follow this road to the rendezvous site. FROM MELBOURNE: Take Hwy 56 to the intersection on HWY 5 and turn left. On Walnut Street turn left and follow until you reach Rand Hill Drive. Turn left and follow to site.
Camping: Water, Wood & Toilets Available
For More Information:
Billy Bennett 870-297-2269; Email karpadem1@yahoo.com; Gloria Sanders 870-297-6100
Arts, Crafts, Merchandise and Food Vendors Welcome
Booth spaces are $25 each. Booths for those offering Native American crafts are free. Call 870-297-4129 or email ggushue@gmail.com.
Information & Registration
For more information or to sign up for the stew competition, inquire about vending space, or buy raffle tickets, contact the museum at 870-297-6100. You can also visit the museum’s website using the link at the right.
What is a Rendezvous?
Mountain Man Rendezvous were an annual gathering (1825–1840) at various locations held by a fur trading company at which trappers and mountain men sold their furs and hides and replenished their supplies. Rendezvous were known to be lively, joyous places, where all were allowed- free trappers, Indians, native trapper wives and children, travelers and later on, even tourists who would venture from even as far as Europe to observe the festivities. Rendezvous are still celebrated as gatherings of like-minded individuals or clubs in many walks of life. The fur trading rendezvous are celebrated by traditional black-powder rifle clubs all over the US and Canada. These gatherings range from small gatherings sponsored by local clubs to large gatherings like the Pacific Primitive Rendezvous and others. These gatherings include much of the same activities of the originals, centering on the shooting of muzzle-loaded rifles, trade guns and shotguns, the throwing of knives and tomahawks and primitive archery, as well as cooking, dancing, singing, the telling of tall tales and of past rendezvous. Personas taken on by participants include trappers, traders, housewives, Native Americans, frontiersmen, free-trappers and many others, including soldiers.
These early frontier gatherings were called “rendezvous”, French for a meeting at a particular place and time. Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center is proud to sponsor its Annual Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous and hope you will mark your calendar so you won’t miss our gathering.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Calico Rock Mountain Man Rendezvous in September at Rand City Park in Calico Rock, Arkansas.
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