COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – The two-day French and Indian War Encampment Reenactment at Cook Forest State Park begins today.

(Photos by Kyle Yates Photography)

Volunteers from across the Commonwealth have gathered at Cook Forest State Park, 113 River Road, Cooksburg, Pa., as they attempt to portray eighteenth-century British, Colonial, French, and Native American lifestyles and war tactics used during the French and Indian War.

The event is free to the public.

This two-day encampment includes highlights such as cannon and musket firing demonstrations, woodland natives, children’s programs, sutler camp, council and trading events, and live tactical engagements where every battle is different.

Multiple nationally renowned living historians will also be in attendance.

The volunteers will also present demonstrations in 18th-century blacksmithing, turkey wing bone call fabrication, cooking, art, cannon and musket firing, and much more.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, June 8

10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. Event Open

10:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration — by Dennis Murray story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from Sawmill Craft Market

10:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Sinew Processing — by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the old Sawmill Classroom ($10 for materials)

10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. Cooking Demonstration — by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

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

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

11:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest — tactical engagement in the woods along the abandoned access road at the edge of the field beside the park swimming pool.

12:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Surgical Techniques — by Dave Crispen, 42nd Highland Regiment surgeon’s mate, at the NEW Sawmill Classroom

1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. ‘American’s 1st World War: Causes of the French & Indian War as Told Through the Eyes of Benjamin Franklin’ by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking (free, but donations towards the event will be accepted)

2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Children’s Games — by Jen Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site

2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. 18th Century Parasols: A Decorating Workshop — by Bonnie Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the old Sawmill Classroom ($15)

3:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration — by Dennis Murray story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from the Sawmill Craft Market

3:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. — Powderhorn & Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication — by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom ($15 for materials)

3:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration — by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

4:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. Peril in the Forest — tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Sunday, June 9

9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. Event Open

9:00 a.m. — 9:15 a.m. 18th Century Sunday Service — by the 42nd Highland Regiment, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail

9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration — by Dennis Murray, story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from the Sawmill Craft Market

10:15 a.m. — 10:45 a.m. Children’s Musket Drill — by camp Corps of Re-enactors, at the water tower along Black Bear Trail

11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. Powderhorn & Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication — by Paul Stillman, a living historian from Historically Speaking, in the old Sawmill Classroom ($15 for materials)

11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators — meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom

11:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration — by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

11:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest — tactical engagement in the woods along the abandoned access road at the edge of the field beside the park swimming pool

12:30 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. 18th Century Surgical Techniques — by Jack Mathay, Company LeBeouf surgeon, at the NEW Sawmill Classroom

12:30 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. Murph’s Blacksmithing Demonstration — by Dennis Murray, story-teller (Clarion County’s #1 liar) and blacksmith, across from Sawmill Craft Market

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

2:30 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. Peril in the Forest — tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom

Details regarding the event and a full schedule of all presentations can be found here.