Grand Portage National Monument Rendezvous Days

Music during Rendezvous Days

NPS Photo / M. Tessier

It is 1797, the Rendezvous is in full swing, and over a thousand people work and linger within the palisades and surrounding area. North West Company agents, clerks, and partners gather to conduct business and celebrate their good fortune. They arrive by canoe with the voyageurs bringing trade goods from the east, and furs from the north. Native American families gather by the shore to trade and reunite with friends and family, all right here in Grand Portage.

During Rendezvous Days, costumed interpreters reenact 18th century life of the fur trade era. Park rangers and volunteer reenactors provide you with a unique view into the hustle and bustle of Grand Portage over 220 years ago.

 

Rendezvous Days 2023 Program

The Heritage Center, stockade, reconstructed buildings, and historic encampment are open to the public from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

• Come as you are! Visitors are not required to dress in period costume
• Admission to Rendezvous and the monument grounds is free
• Donations to support future events and interpretive programs are appreciated

Thank you for your support!

Stone Bridge Singers Drum Group Welcome
Friday, 10 am, Great Hall Lawn

 

Watch a bull boat constructed from a bison hide over the course of two days.

Photo: Shaun Deller

Bull Boat Building - ongoing
Launching at the dock: Saturday, 4 pm

This year's theme is The North West Company Looks West. Learn about the boats used when the fur trade expanded beyond where birch trees grow.

Historic Encampment Tours:
Friday: 2 pm & 3 pm,
Saturday: 11 am & 3:30 pm

Join a free one-hour guided tour of the 18th century fur trade Rendezvous encampment. Meet at the information tent near the north gatehouse.

Archeological Site Tours:
Saturday: 11 am, 1 pm

Workshops Registration (free)
Opens at 9:30 am

For more information or to register for a workshop, please visit the Information tent near the North Gate.
Workshops are free and open to the public. * registration required

Friday, August 11th

• 10 am: Stone Bridge Singers Drum Group Welcome - Great Hall Lawn
• 11 am: Flint & Steel Fire Contest - Historic Encampment
• 11 am: Cornhusk Dolls/Voyageur Action Figures - Great Hall Porch
• 11:30 am: Kids’ Stool Workshop* - Workshop Tent
• 12 pm: Make a Cattail Duck Decoy (kids) - Ojibwe Village
• 1 pm: Kids’ Stool Workshop* - Workshop Tent
• 1 pm: Tinsmithing for Kids* - Tinsmith Shop
• 2 pm: NWCo Trade Token Talk - Historic Encampment
• 2 pm: Kids’ Bead Hunt - Historic Encampment
• 2:30 pm: Tinsmithing for Kids* - Tinsmith Shop
• 3 pm Dutch Oven 101 Class - Historic Encampment
• 3:30 pm: Camp Chore Challenge Contest - West Gate
• 4 pm: Tinsmithing for Kids* - Tinsmith Shop
• 4 pm: Auchagah’s Key - Workshop Tent

Saturday, August 12th

• 9:30 am: Scavenger Hunt for Young’uns - Historic Encampment
• 10 am: Rugged Voyageur Contest - Inside West Gate
• 10 am: Leather Trousers of the Fur Trade Talk - Workshop Tent
• 10 am: Tinsmithing for Adults* - Tinsmith Shop
• 10:30 am: Blacksmithing the Hide Scraper* (advanced) - Blacksmith Shop
• 11 am: Wooden Box Class* - Workshop Tent
• 11:30 am: The Great Lacrosse Match - Great Hall Lawn
• 11:30 am: Blacksmithing Class* (beginners) - Blacksmith Shop
• 12:30 pm: Music of the Northern Plains w / Eric & Arty - Great Hall
• 1:30 pm: Yoke’s On You - Warehouse Yard
• 2 pm: Hunting the Buffalo/Pemmican - Workshop Tent
• 2:30 pm: Make a Cattail Duck Decoy (kids) - Ojibwe Village
• 3 pm: Annoj gaa-ezhi-nisid awendaagwadoon Anishinaabemong (How a variety of things were understood in the language) - Workshop Tent
• 4 pm: Over the Waterfall live music - Great Hall Porch

8-10 pm: Live Music & Dancing, Open to all - Great Hall Lawn

 

Thank you to our generous sponsor!

If you’re interested in finding out how you can support Grand Portage National Monument, please visit our partner, National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF), at nplsf.org for more information. The mission of NPLSF is to provide financial support for projects and programs that preserve the natural resources and cultural heritage of all five national parks along Lake Superior. NPSLF is charged with their stewardship and is committed to their long term support, preservation, and enhancement.