We are moving into another busy reenacting season and spring is a great time to get the canvas out and set it up for a nice weekend with family and friends. As we look forward to warmer weather and the fun events to come, let’s take a quick look back at our 2023 events. The Colonial Market Faire, the only juried event in annual event schedule, was held on April 1st & 2nd, and despite some very windy weather, a great group of reenactors from across the country gathered for another year and everyone enjoyed the event’s activities that included shopping reproduction items with nice selection of sutlers and blanket traders, a Ladies’ Tea, and a shooting competition. Moving on to the next event, we had good temps and dry weather for our 53th Annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous the first weekend in June. From all accounts and from what I heard from those that were involved, the event was a big success. We had a great turn out from visitors and participants, a good time was had by all! The Rendezvous Planning Committee and all the volunteers that spend countless hours planning the event and work tirelessly to make it all come together thank all involved for making the event a success every year, it really does all their hearts good to see everything come together like it did. I would be remised if I didn’t mention our event sponsors and without their generous financial contributions, the events at Fort de Chartres wouldn’t be possible. Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers!!
Although the committee and the volunteers took a little time to breathe a sigh of relief at the conclusion of our big event in June, the planning and work didn’t stop. Planning for Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous and Woodswalk held November 4th & 5th, started pretty quickly after the conclusion of the big June Rendezvous. There were plenty of merchants and traders selling their unique wares, several wonderful food vendors set up in our Food Court and if you are into flintlock muzzleloader shooting, the Woodswalk shoot did not disappoint. There are a lot of details that are worked out for each large event and the Rendezvous planning committee and volunteers are committed to making sure the Winter Rendezvous was the best event of its kind, so you don’t want to miss out on attending in 2024. New this year to the event, Les Amis du Fort de Chartres hosted the annual Education Day that Thursday before the event for participating schools in the area. Please reach out to Les Amis du Fort de Chartres by email, lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail.com, if you are interested in helping during Education Day in 2024. We could always use demonstrators/volunteers and greatly appreciate it.
Finally, at the end of the year, we hosted La Guianneé on New Year’s Eve for the first time in several years due to the pandemic. It is one of the oldest standing French traditions in North America, so please come out and join us at the fort for this special event held at the Fort on December 31st every year.
Looking towards 2024 annual special events, our Fort de Chartres Colonial Market Faire will be taking place the first weekend in April on the 6th and 7th. There was some concern about keeping this event going, as it was putting a lot of strain on the volunteers that play a big part in the planning and management of the Annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous in June. As all good things seem to go, a group of dedicated Les Amis volunteers stepped up to chair this event and are already putting together some great plans for the event. More information to come about this event, so check on the event webpage at https://fortdechartres.net/2024-fdc-colonial-faire/ for updates.
All of our events are planned and managed by volunteers, with financial support from our wonderful sponsors. If you would like to help out with any of our events (as a volunteer or a sponsor), you can reach out to me at lesamisdufortdechartres@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting the place a lot of us consider a second home, Fort de Chartres.
Fort de Chartres 2024 Annual Special Event Schedule
Fort de Chartres Colonial Market Faire-April 6 & 7
54th Annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous-June 1 & 2
Artillery Safety School at FdC-September 7
Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous-November 2 & 3
Prairie du Rocher La Guianneé at Fort de Chartres-December 31
Thanks,
Jason Duensing
Vice President of Events – Les Amis du Fort de Chartres