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Time Travel in June: Rendezvous à la Fort de Chartres
Please read this article during the first week of June. Why? Because the first weekend of June is fast approaching and with it, the annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous. This is a chance at time travel you won’t want to miss — and it’s close. A short hop over the Mississippi to route 3 and you’re off.
The first weekend in June marks the 38th annual Rendezvous for the historic fort. Remember French class? The word Rendezvous means “a meeting between two parties at a predetermined time and place.” That place today is known as Prairie de Roche, Illinois. And that’s where you’re headed.
In nineteenth century North America, a Rendezvous marked a special time for fur trappers, traders, Indian men, women and children and travelers like you. They could last a week and often longer. Some records indicate month-long Rendezvous with over one thousand participants!!
In addition to becoming a communal event signaling the end of winter and the promise of spring, a Rendezvous was often punctuated by a renewal of friendships, partnerships and treaties. Those events were often celebrated with music, dancing, drinking, courting, trading, story-telling, campfires, gambling, feasting and competitions of every kind.
The original Rendezvous were held between roughly 1820 and 1840 and, for the most part, took place out west beyond the Continental Divide. Today, Rendezvous are held all over North America and are living history events that include re-enactors, period costumes, food, music, competitions and exhibitions.
Some Rendezvous strictly enforce period observation as set forth by organizations such as the National Rendezvous and Living History Organization (NRLHF). The payoff from such efforts is a unique glimpse of American, French, British, Spanish and North American Indian culture now lost to modernity.
By the time you read this, it will be too late to sign up as a re-enactor participant. You can do that next year, now that you’re the wiser — but the good news is this, if you can’t make Saturday, June 7 then get it together for the 8th!
The website www.ftdechartres.com lists the schedule for both days. With a little bit of luck, sunshine will combine with costumes of a half dozen fife and drum corps from around the Midwest and make for great photos of your day out with friends and family.
Add to that traditional French colonial music, American colonial music, riffle, knife and hawk throw competitions, traditional dancing, a fashion show, sheep dog demonstrations, canon and riffle salutes, period crafts and clothing, great food and hundreds of encampments surrounding an eighteenth century French fort — and you’ll be back.
Your best bet is to take the JB Bridge to I-255 south until it merges with route 3. route 3 south is a beautiful drive through Waterloo, Redbud and Ruma. Once in Ruma look for signs for highway 155 west. This will get you to Praire de Roche and Fort de Chartres. There’s a small charge for parking. Just pay it. The proceeds help with upkeep of the fort, as well as the Rendezvous itself.
If for some reason you simply can’t make this year’s Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, put this destination on your to-do list for the future. Never mind the Rendezvous for now. After all, the drive along route 3 south and the Fort itself are worth a visit anytime of year.
Bon voyage!!
Zen Explorer
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