Rendezvous in Mackinaw, an 18th and 19th century and reenactment and market fair sponsored by the Fort Michilimackinac Pageant, will take place in Mackinaw City Friday, July 31, through Sunday, August 2. Visitors will be able to purchase items like clothing, pottery, and crafts from silversmiths and watch how games and everyday life events were conducted during the 18th century.

Games will be available to children, including lacrosse, knife and tomahawk throwing, and a spear target game.

The merchant and game area will be available to the public Saturday, August 1, at 10 a.m. The event changes dramatically at 1 p.m., when local reenactors will charge down Central Avenue, barging into local businesses and looting what they can within. The public can follow from a safe distance, watching as the looters run off with their ill-gotten goods. Following the looting, a skirmish between the American militia unit and Native Americans, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, will occur. The battle will move from Central Avenue and finish in Mackinaw Crossings at 2:30 p.m.

On Sunday the public is invited to attend an 18th century-style church service at the encampment. Reverend Bill Bower will conduct the service at 10 a.m., which will include the singing of older church songs.

The rendezvous was originally an 18th century trade fair conducted by the Michilimackinaw Voyageurs in the 1980s, a reenactment group. A different group, called the Spirits of the North, began a reenactment of the War of 1812 around the same time the trade fair took place in August, coordinator Chuck Kibby said. The trade fair was then expanded.

Schedule of Events for Rendezvous

Friday, July 31 10 a.m. - Merchant area open to public Saturday, August 1 10 a.m. - Encampment and merchant area open. Archery, kKnife, and hawk knife competitions available. Cannon and musket giring demonstrations 1 p.m. - Looting of Central Avenue event. Skirmish with Native Americans and militia. Armed sloop Welcome available for tour at Conklin Heritage Park 2:30 p.m. - Skirmish between Native Americans and Militia at Mackinaw Crossings, ends at Performance Court in Mackinaw Crossings. 8 p.m. - Auction of 18th and 19th century items and Hudson Bay blanket raffle at Performance Court in Mackinaw Crossings. 10 p.m. - Encampment and merchant area close. Sunday, August 2 10 a.m. - Encampment and Merchant are open. Camp church services available. 11 a.m.- Looted goods presented to reenactors and merchants. 1:30 p.m. - Skirmish at Performance Court in Mackinaw Crossings. 4 p.m. - Encampment area closes.