17th, 18th Centuries Come Alive This Weekend

This weekend, you can travel back in time to the 1600s at the Big Island Rendezvous in Albert Lea.

More than 1,000 “living history” villagers will reenact a voyageur encampment across 120-acres. There will be Native American tipi tours, tomahawk throwing competitions and historic canon firings by the New Ulm Battery. Watch craftsmen demonstrate leather shoemaking, blacksmithing, candle making, pottery and finger-weaving in Bancroft Bay Park, which is transformed into early Minnesota this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2.

You won’t want to miss this 25th anniversary rendezvous because you will be able to see a buffalo hide tipi from the movie, Dances with Wolves; meet Abe Lincoln, and view artwork by Robert Griffing, a world-renowned painter of 18th century Eastern Woodland Indian scenes.

Voted one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association in 2011, the event runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.  I went last year and met extraordinary volunteers who really know their history and are authentic in their presentation. One re-enactor had fashioned all of the water baskets by hand for the movie, Dances with Wolves. You, too, can own one just like in the movie and made by the same hands.

Just a 90-minute drive from Apple Valley, this is a great day trip. Tickets can be purchased at the event for $10 ages 12 to adult; $6 ages 6 to 11; Family pass for immediate family members for $25. Free admission for children age 5 and younger.

If you want to make a fall color weekend of it, stay overnight in an Albert Lea hotel or campground and then gravitate northwest along the Meander: Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl. Meander cities include Redwood Falls, Granite Falls and Montevideo. More than 30 craftsmen and artists open their studios along the Minnesota River.