History & Culture

Cook Forest State Park will host a series of living history events depicting life during the French & Indian War.  Highlights of this full two-day encampment include woodland natives, cannon and musket firing, cooking, primitive skills, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, pottery, children’s games, sutler camp, renown living historians, French & Indian War Era artisans, and live tactical engagements.  Every battle is different!  Take a walk back in time along the Black Bear Trail by the Sawmill Center for the Arts during open camp hours to view   British, Colonial, French, and Native American re-enactors as they portray lifestyles of the 18th century. For more information, contact Cook Forest State Park at 814-744-8407 or CookForestPA@pa.gov CLICK HERE for more information. Weekend Schedule of Events: Saturday, June 7 1000am-600pm Event Open 1000am-1100am Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray, across from Sawmill Craft Market 1000am-400pm Cooking Demonstration - by Geoffrey Domowicz, Compagnie LeBoeuf chef, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site 1030pm-500pm French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators - meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the Old Sawmill Classroom 1030pm-500pm Sutler Row Demonstrators - Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements? Meet tinsmiths, cordwainers, leather workers, cooks, gunsmiths, clothiers, weapons outfitters, and gourd makers in the long field on your right as you come into the main Sawmill entrance. 1100am-1130am Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom 1130am-1200pm Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom 100pm-200pm Nasty Ned the Frontiersmen: 18th Century Teller of Tales & Historical Fact’- by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, at the Sawmill Theater 200pm-300pm 18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site 300pm-600pm Powderhorn Fabrication Workshop - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $25 for materials 300pm-500pm Blacksmithing Demonstration - by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market 330pm-400pm Cannon & Musket Firing Demo - by the camp Corps of Artillery, located in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom 400pm-430pm Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom Sunday, June 8 900am-330pm Event Open 900am-930am 18th Century Sunday Service by Rick Sanguigni of ’Friends of Dennis Murray’, located in the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail 930am-1100am Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market 930am-300pm French & Indian War Era Art & Demonstrators Meet with distinguished artists, authors, artisans, and demonstrators in the old Sawmill Classroom 930pm-300pm Sutler Row Demonstrators - Want to meet with skilled artisans to make a trade or purchase? Looking to get into the hobby and need clothing & accoutrements? Meet tinsmiths, cordwainers, leather workers, cooks, gunsmiths, clothiers, weapons outfitters, and gourd makers in the long field on your right as you come into the main Sawmill entrance. 1015am-1045am 18th Century Children’s Games - by the Noel Family-Compagnie LeBoeuf, along Black Bear Trail at the main encampment site 1100am-200pm Turkey Wingbone Call Fabrication - by Paul Stillman, living historian from Historically Speaking, in the Old Sawmill Classroom, $15 for materials 1130am-1200pm In Defense of the Homeland– morning surprise tactical assault at the main encampment site along Black Bear Trail 1230pm-200pm Blacksmithing Demonstration by ‘Friends of Dennis Murray’, across from Sawmill Craft Market 200pm-230pm Cannon & Musket Firing Demonstration by the camp Corps of Artillery, in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom 230pm-300pm Peril in the Forest - tactical engagement in the woods along Black Bear Trail across from the old Sawmill Classroom.