Fort Atkinson Rendezvous Days
Event Details
303 2nd st. NW
Fort Atkinson, IA / 52144
Contact Name: Kay Schmitt
Phone: 563-534-7455
Website: https://www.fortatkinsoniowa.com/rendezvous-days-info
Event Description
In the year 1977, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Fort Atkinson community, with permission of the Iowa State Preserves Advisory Board, organized a frontier rendezvous to re-enact life as it was in the 1840s. Participants, dressed in authentic costumes worn in the 1840s, recreated the time period in regards to general military life at the Fort as well as when hunters, trappers, & traders displayed their furs & supplies for barter and trade at a frontier rendezvous as existed further west in the Rocky Mountains. Re-creation of the frontier rendezvous and the 1840s military life at Fort Atkinson has continued every year since. The annual Fort Atkinson rendezvous occurs during the last full weekend in the month of September, with “school day” the previous Friday.
Saturday, September 28th 9:30 am – 4:30 pm:
- 9:30 a.m. Fort Opens to the Public with Cannon Drill
- 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Open Shooting | Quarry | Registered Campers Only
- 9:45 a.m. Flint & Steel Contest
- 10:15 a.m. Tomahawk Throwing Contest
- 11:00 a.m. Primitive Bow Shoot
- 12:00 p.m. Cannon Drill and Fort Atkinson Restoration Project Dedication
- 12:30 p.m. Music with Gary & Annie
- 1:00 p.m. Shooting Contest | Quarry area
- 1:15 p.m. 1840s Kid’s Games
- 2:00 p.m. Cannon Drill
- 3:00 p.m. Bullwhip Contest
- 3:30 p.m. Judging of the Cooking Contest
- 4:15 p.m. Evening Colors with Cannon Drill
- 4:30 p.m. Fort Closes to Public
- 4:35 Last Bus Departs
Sunday, September 29th 9:00 am – 3:30 pm:
- 9:00 a.m. Fort Opens to the Public with Cannon Drill
- 9:30 – 10 :00 a.m. Open Shooting | Quarry | Registered Campers Only
- 10:00 a.m. Skillet Throw
- 10:30 a.m. Kid’s Tomahawk Throw
- 11:00 a.m. Cannon Drill
- 12:00 p.m. Music with Gary & Annie
- 1:15 p.m. 1840s Kid’s Games
- 3:30 p.m. Evening Colors with Cannon Drill
- 3:30pm Fort Closes to Public
- 3:45 p.m. Last Bus Departs