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.

Schedule:

Saturday, June 7

10:00am-6:00pm
Event Open

10:00am-11:00am
Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray, across from Sawmill Craft Market

10:00am-4:00pm
Cooking Demonstration - by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

10:30pm-5:00pm
French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators - meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom

10:30pm-5:00pm
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.

11:00am-11:30am
Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

11:30am-12:00pm
Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

1:00pm-2:00pm
Nasty Ned the Frontiersmen: 18th Century Teller of Tales & Historical Fact’- by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater

2:00pm-3:00pm
18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

3:00pm-6:00pm
Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials

3:00pm-5:00pm
Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

3:30pm-4:00pm
Cannon & Musket Firing Demo - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

4:00pm-4:30pm
Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Sunday, June 8

9:00am-3:30pm
Event Open

9:00am-9:30am
18th Century Sunday Service by Rick Sanguigni of ’Friends of Dennis Murray’, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

9:30am-11:00am
Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

9:30am-3:00pm
French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators Meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom

9:30pm-3:00pm
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.

10:15am-10:45am
18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

11:00am-2:00pm
Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $15 for materials

11:30am-12:00pm
In Defense of the Homeland– morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

12:30pm-2:00pm
Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market

2:00pm-2:30pm
Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

2:30pm-3:00pm
Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Date: June 7 and 8, 2025

Time:
June 7, 2025 -- 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
June 8, 2025 -- 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Venue:
Cook Forest State Park
100 RT 36
Cooksburg, PA 16217

For more info https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/cook-forest-french-indian-war-encampment.