Hoping last weekend’s Lake Michigan storms wouldn’t spread to West Lafayette, IN, Mary and I drove to the town’s Feast of the Hunter’s Moon. This annual and extremely popular event is 44 years old! Commemorating 18th century French Rendezvous, the “feast” gives enactors the opportunity to dress and live as 18th century French voyageurs and colonials, as well as members of various American, British and Scottish military units, and Indians from several Native American tribes.
Groups staked out their designated ground and pitched tents or lean-to’s and dug fire pits to cook meals and keep warm. Most slept there overnight. Many small tents welcomed visitors to peruse “18th century wares” the merchants might have sold or traded.
Hoards of folks visited this large “tent city” to see the enactors and sample 18th century fare, like buffalo (burgers) and roasted corn, followed by a cold bottle of home-made root beer. Vendors sold toy bows, swords, spears, and handcrafted skinning knives. Plush furs, jewelry, and racks of hand-sewn period clothing caught the attention of many as well.
Visitors enjoyed 18th century music performed at the open air venues. Here you might listen to a quintet of French Voyageurs singing a lively tune; over there you could linger and enjoy an octet of folks playing Dulcimers. Further down the hill a large group of British Soldiers played a number of drum and fife tunes.
The audience and enactors, a cross-section of middle-America, clearly enjoyed celebrating their heritage. And more than a few learned a bit about our American history. As for Mary and me . . . we plan to return in 2011!
Groups staked out their designated ground and pitched tents or lean-to’s and dug fire pits to cook meals and keep warm. Most slept there overnight. Many small tents welcomed visitors to peruse “18th century wares” the merchants might have sold or traded.
Hoards of folks visited this large “tent city” to see the enactors and sample 18th century fare, like buffalo (burgers) and roasted corn, followed by a cold bottle of home-made root beer. Vendors sold toy bows, swords, spears, and handcrafted skinning knives. Plush furs, jewelry, and racks of hand-sewn period clothing caught the attention of many as well.
Visitors enjoyed 18th century music performed at the open air venues. Here you might listen to a quintet of French Voyageurs singing a lively tune; over there you could linger and enjoy an octet of folks playing Dulcimers. Further down the hill a large group of British Soldiers played a number of drum and fife tunes.
The audience and enactors, a cross-section of middle-America, clearly enjoyed celebrating their heritage. And more than a few learned a bit about our American history. As for Mary and me . . . we plan to return in 2011!
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