Cook Forest French & Indian War Encampment

Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts 140 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA, United States

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.

Woodcarvers Festival: “A Day at the County Fair”

Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts 140 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA, United States

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  This festival features carefully hand-carved creations which are judged by professional carvers.  In addition to the carvings, we are adding other wooden works of art to the festival.  These impressive works of art are displayed throughout the weekend, and many are available for purchase. Demonstrations and a woodcarving class will round out the event. CLICK HERE for the 2025 Woodcarvers Letter CLICK HERE for the 2025 Woodcarvers Entry Form CLICK HERE for the 2025 Vendor Registration Form

Cook Forest Chainsaw Carvers’ Round-Up

Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts 140 Theatre Lane, Cooksburg, PA, United States

Daily: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1st Auction on Saturday at 4 p.m. 2nd Auction on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Auction Registration begins at 3:00 p.m. Come see carvers in action as they create beautiful works of art from a simple log. Stay for the auctions to bid on and purchase some of these beautiful pieces! The Sawmill Craft Market will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CLICK HERE for the 2025 Chainsaw Carvers Letter CLICK HERE for the 2025 Vendor Registration Form