Rendezvous

Rendezvous Camp with Horse Grazing on Prairie Grasses.

NPS Photo/Emily Sunblade

Fort Union Rendezvous

Fort Union Rendezvous June 12-15, 2025

Step back in time and experience the excitement of the 19th Century Fur Trade Fair at Fort Union! Join us for our biggest event of the year—a vibrant celebration filled with period arts, crafts, music, and living history.

Every June, Fort Union bursts into life with the sights and sounds of the historic trade season. Over 100 passionate re-enactors from across the U.S. and Canada gather to showcase traditional skills, lifeways, and the spirit of the fur trade era. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey into the past!

Kids Day: June 12, 2025

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at Fort Union! Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Time for a day packed with excitement, history, and hands-on fun. Watch skilled demonstrators bring the past to life with engaging programs and interactive activities the whole family will love!

 

 

42nd Annual Fort Union Rendezvous Poster

NPS Photo

2025 Rendezvous Visitor Information

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is ready to come alive with the sights, sounds, and excitement of the American Frontier during our annual Rendezvous on the third full weekend of June. This event invites visitors of all ages to step back in time and experience the rich history and vibrant culture of the fur trade era.

The Fort Union Rendezvous promises to immerse attendees in the lifestyle and traditions of early explorers, trappers, and Native American tribes. This living history event has become a favorite among history enthusiasts, families, and adventurers, providing a unique blend of education and entertainment for everyone.

Event Highlights:

• Thrilling Reenactments: Witness exciting reenactments of significant events from the fur trade era, including demonstrations of black powder shooting and trade negotiations.
• Artisan Demonstrations: Discover traditional skills as artisans showcase crafts such as blacksmithing, pottery, spinning and weaving, and frontier cooking.
• Shopping Opportunities: Explore our numerous historical vendors offering unique items.

Best of all, admission and parking are free! Join us for an unforgettable experience at Fort Union Rendezvous.

 

2025 Rendezvous Schedule

42nd Annual Fort Union Rendezvous, June 12-15, 2025

All times Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Subject to Change
Park Hours, Visitor Center Hours of Operations 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM CDT
Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row Hours of Operations 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM CDT

Thursday June 12, 2025 - 10:00-2:00 CDT - Kids Day

Kids Day Activities

Explore Fort Union from 10:00 am to 2:00 PM Central Time! Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at Fort Union! Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Time for a day packed with excitement, history, and hands-on fun. Watch skilled demonstrators bring the past to life with engaging programs and interactive activities the whole family will love!

To participate, stop by the welcome tent to receive your orientation and a Tic-Tac-Toe form. Complete the activities on the form, mark off your squares, and turn it in to claim a fun prize! It's a great way to explore, learn, and enjoy everything Fort Union Rendezvous has to offer.

Thursday June 12th, 2025

All Times Central, Subject to Change

9:00-5:00     Visitor Center and Trade House
10:00-4:30    Rendezvous Camp and Traders Row
10:00-2:00    Kids Day 2025 Various Locations
10:00-4:00    Blacksmithing, Blacksmith Shop
10:00-4:00    Hide Demonstrations, Billy Maxwell, Dwelling Range
10:00-4:00    Canoes of the Fur Trade, Jeff Brown, Camp Site
10:00-4:00    Cooper (Barrel Making), Karl Koster, Carpenter Shack
10:00-4:00    Tinsmith, Paul Cummings, Storage Range
1:00               Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous Camp Awning
2:00               Plains Indian Hand Talk,  Denny Leonard and AMM Members, Courtyard

Friday June 13, 2025

All Times Central, Subject to Change

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,  Dwelling Range
10:00-4:00    Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:00-4:00    Cooper (Barrel Making), Karl Koster, Carpenter Shack
10:00-4:00    Tinsmith, Paul Cummings, Storage Range
11:00-4:00    Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous Camp Awning
10:30            Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
11:00            Period Fabrics, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
11:00            Plains Indian Hand Talk,  Denny Leonard and AMM Members, Courtyard
12:00           Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
1:00             Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
1:00             Wool Spinning, Amanda Watson, Camp Site
2:00             Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
3:00             Fort Hunter & Frontier Cooking, Terry Madden & Chris Floyd, Camp Site

Saturday June 14, 2025

All Times Central, Subject to Change

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, Dwelling Range
10:00-4:00    Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:00-4:00    Cooper (Barrel Making), Karl Koster, Carpenter Shack
10:00-4:00    Tinsmith, Paul Cummings, Storage Range
10:30            Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
10:00            Cottonwood Groves Presentation,  Billy Maxwell and Doug Epperly, Clerk’s Office
11:00-4:00    Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous Camp Awning
11:00            Period Fabrics, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
11:00            Plains Indian Hand Talk,  Denny Leonard, Courtyard
12:00           Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
1:00             Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
1:00             Wool Spinning, Amanda Watson, Camp Site
2:00             Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
3:00             Fort Hunter & Frontier Cooking, Terry Madden & Chris Floyd, Camp Site
 

Sunday June 15, 2025

All Times Central, Subject to Change

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, Dwelling Range
10:00-3:00    Bateliers: Boatmen on the Upper Missouri, Keelboat Talk, Cedric Halvorson & Sawyer Flynn, Keelboat
10:00-3:00    Tinsmith, Paul Cummings, Storage Range
10:00            Cottonwood Groves Presentation, Billy Maxwell and Doug Epperly, Clerk’s Office
11:00-3:00    Pottery, Gordon Lucht, Rendezvous Camp Awning
10:30            Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
11:00            Gunsmithing, Mark Morain, Camp Site
11:00            Wool Spinning, Amanda Watson, Camp Site
12:00            Period Fabrics, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
12:30            Flintlock Firing Demonstration, Front Bank
1:00              Trade Goods, Kathy Elijah, Clerk’s Office
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 the site at 701-572-9083 for more infomation.

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.

Interpretation Guidelines

All interpretations should highlight the interactions among the following groups during the early to mid-19th century at Fort Union:

1. American Indians from Upper Missouri Tribes:
   This includes the Assiniboine, Crow, Blackfeet, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, and Lakota and Dakota Sioux.

2. Euro-Americans:
   This group encompasses employees of the American Fur Company, trappers, independent traders, hunters, rivermen, missionaries, enslaved individuals, visiting artists and scientists, and military personnel.

3. Interactions among Euro-Americans:
   Focus on those who lived, worked, traded, or visited Fort Union during this period.

Your role is to help visitors understand the daily activities of these groups, the challenges they faced, and how they managed those challenges. Sharing your experiences will enrich the fur trade story at Fort Union Trading Post.

This event is co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort Union Trading Post, based in Williston, North Dakota. The Fort Union Muzzle Loaders Association will assist in maintaining a safe campsite.

Important Participation Guidelines:

• All participants must sign a VIP volunteer agreement to camp or participate at Rendezvous.

• Help protect and preserve the site's history and resources for the education and enjoyment of future visitors while ensuring your safety and that of current visitors.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to preserving the history of Fort Union!