Rendezvous Camp with Horse Grazing on Prairie Grasses.
NPS Photo/Emily Sunblade
Fort Union Rendezvous
3rd full weekend in June. Join us and celebrate a 19th Century Fur Trade Fair that includes a variety of period arts, crafts, and music.
This annual gathering is our largest event, a time when Fort Union comes alive and best reflects the busy trade season. Over 100 Re-enactors from across the country and Canada every third weekend in June demonstrating traditional skills and lifeways.
41st Annual Fort Union Rendezvous
NPS Photo
Visitor Information
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is set to come alive with the sights, sounds, and excitement of the American Frontier during the annual Rendezvous. From June 13-16, 2024, visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to experience the rich history and vibrant culture of the fur trade era. The Fort Union Rendezvous promises to transport attendees to a bygone era, immersing them in the lifestyle and traditions of early explorers, trappers, and Native American tribes. This living history event has become a staple for history enthusiasts, families, and adventurers alike, offering a unique educational and entertaining experience for all.
Highlights of the Fort Union Rendezvous – Witness thrilling reenactments of significant events from the fur trade era including demonstrations of black powder shooting and trade negotiations. Discover the craftsmanship of yesteryear as artisans demonstrate traditional skills such as blacksmithing, pottery, spinning and weaving, and frontier cooking. Shop with our many historical vendors.
Admission and parking are free.
2024 Rendezvous Schedule
41st Annual Fort Union Rendezvous, June 13-16, 2024
All times Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Park Hours, Visitor Center & Traders Row Hours of Operations 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM CDT
Camp and Demonstration Hours of Operations 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM CDT
Kids Day Activities
Explore Fort Union from 10:00 am to 2:00 PM Central Time! There will be crafts for kids and demonstrations happening around the entire Rendezvous Camp!
Special Kids Day demonstrations will taking place every half hour from 10 to 2:
Plains Indian Sign Language with Cedric Halvorson and Brandon Delvo
Flintlock Firing Demonstrations with Sawyer Flynn
Hide Demonstrations with Billy Maxwell
Canoes of the Fur Trade with Jeff Brown
Full schedule of demonstrations below!
9:00-5:00
Visitor Center and Trade House
10:00-4:30
Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row
10:00-4:00
Blacksmithing, Blacksmith Shop
10:00-4:00
Hide Demonstrations, Billy Maxwell, Hunter’s Shack
10:00-4:00
Canoes of the Fur Trade, Jeff Brown, Camp Site
1:00
Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous Camp Awning
10:00-2:00
Kids Day 2024 Various Locations
9:00-5:00
Visitor Center and Trade House
10:00-4:30
Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row
10:00-4:00
Blacksmithing, Blacksmith Shop
10:00-4:00
Canoes of the Fur Trade, Jeff Brown, Camp Site
10:00-4:00
Hide Demonstrations, Billy Maxwell Hunter’s Shack
10:00-4:00
Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:30
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
11:00-4:00
Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous, Camp Awning
11:00
Period Fabric & Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
12:00
Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
1:00
Period Fabric & Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
2:00
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
3:00
Fort Hunter & Frontier Cooking, Terry Madden & Chris Floyd, Camp Site
9:00-5:00
Visitor Center and Trade House
10:00-4:30
Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row
10:00-4:00
Blacksmithing, Blacksmith Shop
10:00-4:00
Canoes of the Fur Trade, Jeff Brown, Camp Site
10:00-4:00
Hide Demonstrations, Billy Maxwell, Hunter’s Shack
10:00-4:00
Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:30
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
11:00-4:00
Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous, Camp Awning
11:00
Period Fabric & Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
12:00
Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
1:00
Period Fabric & Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
2:00
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
3:00
Fort Hunter & Frontier Cooking, Terry Madden & Chris Floyd, Camp Site
9:00-5:00
Visitor Center and Trade House
10:00-3:00
Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row
10:00-3:00
Blacksmithing, Blacksmith Shop
10:00-3:00
Canoes of the Fur Trade, Jeff Brown, Camp Site
10:00-3:00
Hide Demonstrations, Billy Maxwell, Hunter’s Shack
10:00-3:00
Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:30
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
11:00
Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
11:00-3:00
Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous, Camp Awning
12:00
Period Fabric & Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
1:00
Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
2:00
Fort Hunter & Frontier Cooking, Terry Madden & Chris Floyd, Camp Site
Participant Information
Are you interested in participating in the Fort Union Rendezvous? Please first read the full Safety and Authenticity Standards for Fort Fort Union Trading Post NHS, and then contact site Volunteer In Parks Coordinator Lisa Sanden at 701-572-1029 x218 or lisa_sanden@nps.gov for more information.
Basic Information
The staff at Fort Union Trading Post NHS seeks a historically accurate depiction of life at Fort Union Trading Post NHS. To that end, certain standards are expected of all participants.
Gear and Clothing
We concentrate on the period 1828-1867. Clothing, camp equipment and materials should be representative of that period.
The primary focus of Rendezvous events is to portray and re-create of historic lifeways and material culture; including activities, camping equipment, fashion, and weapons, common on the Northern Plains during Fort Union's period of significance. We ask that you make friendly, personal contacts with our visitors. Such contacts will help create an interactive learning event.
Interpretive Themes
All interpretation should illustrate the interactions between American Indians from the Upper Missouri Tribes (Assiniboine, Crow, Blackfeet, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Lakota and Dakota Sioux); the tribes and Euro-Americans (American Fur Company employees, trappers, independent traders, hunters, rivermen, missionaries, slaves, visiting artists and scientists, military personnel, etc.); and among Euro-Americans who lived in, worked or traded at, or visited Fort Union in the early to mid-19th century. You can help our visitors understand what daily activities these people engaged in, what problems and challenges each of them faced, and how they may have dealt with them. You can use your experiences to help bring to life the fur trade story of Fort Union Trading Post.
This event is cosponsored by the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort Union Trading Post, of Williston, North Dakota.
The Fort Union Muzzle Loaders Association will assist the Park Service in policing the camp site.
All participants must sign a VIP volunteer agreement in order to participate and/or camp at Rendezvous.
Help protect and preserve this site's history and resources for future visitors' education and enjoyment while ensuing your own and current visitors' safety.
2023 Campfire Regulations:
Campfire are allowed at Rendezvous within the mown area of camp only.
Fire pits are no longer allowed at Fort Union. In order to minimize impacts to fragile archeological areas, disturbing the soils or sediments for any reason is prohibited.
When setting up camp, please completely encircle your fire area with the available rocks and place a firm layer of sand within the circle to completely cover any exposed ground. Sand will be provided in the Rendezvous area.
Fires may be built to the size necessary for cooking purposes only.
Even if there are no active fire bans in camp, please be careful with all fire and flame, including candles.
Do not leave a burning fire unattended at any time.
Fire extinguishers, water cans and flappers will be stationed at all firewood pallets.
Braziers - Braziers are allowed in camp.
Fort Union has many braziers available for volunteer use, see fort staff to check one out.
Hardwood coal will be provided for braziers.
Self-contained gas or propane fires are allowed
Camp stoves must be small table-top sized, no large BBQ grills will be allowed
Must be hidden similar to all non-period items during the day
Cannot be left unattended while in use (while a flame in present).
