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BEMIDJI — The High Plains Regional Rendezvous invites the public to experience a family friendly event that reenacts the American fur trade era in the 1840s to give a glimpse into the voyageur’s life in northern Minnesota from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19.
The rendezvous is an annual event held within its five member states including South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Minnesota. For the first time since 2017, Bemidji will be hosting the event.
According to the HPRR website, attendees will take a step back in time and get a glimpse into the lifestyles and traditions practiced by early Americans involved in the fur trade and exploration of the country's vast wilderness areas. Traders, black powder shooting exhibitions, archery, food and fur vendors and other friendly competitions are some of the activities that will keep attendees busy throughout the day.
“People will be dressed up and we will have range officers that will be more than happy to teach people how to shoot if they want to,” said event organizer Lisa May. “The participants absolutely love to talk to the people coming to experience it.”
Along with the High Plains Rendezvous, Bemidji will also be hosting the 46th Annual Hangfires Black Powder Rendezvous at the same location the week before. This event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 11, and Tuesday, June 12.
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Rendezvous participants are recommended to wear primitive clothing to represent the 1840 fur trade era to enter. Attendees can dress from a range of personalities portrayed from the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, early American long hunters and Western fur trade characters, the website said.
“We want to share what primitive camp life was like at these events,” May said. “We want to welcome everyone and both events are free along with free parking.”
Both the High Plains Rendezvous and the Bemidji Hangfires Black Powder Rendezvous events will be held at 9179 Beltrami Line Road SW, about 10 miles southwest of Bemidji.
For more information and a map of the location, visit the Annual High Plains Regional Rendezvous Event or Hangfires Black Powder Club’s Facebook page or website at www.hprr.org.
