Frenchman’s Frolic – a Rendezvous at Macktown

COURTESY PHOTO – The Herald
Reenactors portraying French fur traders gather around the fire during Frenchman’s Frolic, an annual rendezvous at Macktown Living History Center, 2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, Ill. Frenchman’s Frolic takes place Oct. 15 – 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

By Jean Seegers – REPORTER

During the 1700 and 1800s, business was booming along the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers near the area that became known as Macktown. French fur traders and voyagers traveled in canoes piled high with beads, trinkets, clothing and weapons to barter with Native Americans in exchange for animal furs. On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16, visitors to Macktown Education Center in Rockton, will have the opportunity to watch a recreation of that era at Frenchman’s Frolic. According to reenactor Michael Bost, Macktown Living History Center Board Member and Coordinator of the event, the French were among the first to settle in this area. Potawatomi and Winnebago Indians were the predominate tribes along the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers. Over 100 reenactors from Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois will rendezvous at the Whitman Trading Post and surrounding encampment areas at Macktown. Visitors are invited to observe black powder shooting, blacksmithing and etching demonstrations, educational workshops, period games and a glimpse of everyday life in a small Midwest settlement. Frontier woman “Mad Ann Bailey” seeks revenge in an interactive program on Saturday. The reenactor ladies will compete in a skillet-throwing contest, and a duel is scheduled for Sunday. 

Saturday’s opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with the flag-raising and a gun salute by the colonial militia.

10 a.m. – visitors can observe a blacksmith demonstration.

11 a.m. – Reenactors will paddle 24 foot birch bark canoes down the Rock River.

At noon, a Tomahawk throw competition will take place near the Trading Post.

1 p.m. – Post-shoot teams will challenge each other to shoot a bulls-eye on a post until the winner splits the post.

2 p.m. – First person reenactor Susan Thompson will portray “Mad Ann Bailey,” a frontier woman that has lost her family and wants revenge.  She will interact with her audience in front of the Trading Post.

3 p.m. – Quilt seminar for reenactors with Instructor Sue Swenson.

Sunday activities include an opening ceremony at 9 a.m.

10 a.m. – Engraving class for reenactors.

11 p.m. – Watch a reenactment of fur traders in birch bark canoes traveling down the Rock River.

Noon – A duel on Old State Road (in the Macktown settlement).

1 p.m. – Visitors can watch a muzzle-loader shooting class in the quarry.

2 p.m. – Watch some of the reenactor ladies get their revenge on the men at a skillet-throwing contest on Old Stone Road.

Food will be available on the grounds throughout the weekend. Frenchman’s Frolic is a free event.  Donations are welcome. Macktown Living History Center is a not-for-profit entity, located in the Macktown Forest Preserve, 2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, Ill.

For additional information call (815) 624-4200 or visit www.MacktownLivingHistory.com.