Mason County families can experience what life was like in the 1770s this weekend during the 13th annual Siege of Fort Randolph encampment and re-enactment at Krodel Park in Point Pleasant.
The three-day event includes feasts, fundraisers and entertainment. Dennis Bellamy, director of the Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said attendees are encouraged to interact with the professional re-enactors and even don 1770s attire themselves.
Saturday's main event, a re-enactment of Chief Cornstalk's arrival, capture and eventual death at Fort Randolph, will take place at 2 p.m. Attendees won't be mere spectators, though. Instead, they'll be moving inside and outside of the fort to keep up with the ensuing battle.
"Muskets are going off, there's black powder guns," Bellamy said. "And you're right there. You're almost in the middle of it."
All re-enactors will be professional actors and will remain in character throughout the weekend. Bellamy said re-enactors across the nation flock to take part in a weekend on the site of the famous Battle of Point Pleasant.
"These people are in the complete dress of the time period," he said. "They're not in costumes. They're not actors that we trained to speak parts."
Re-enactors won't be the only ones dressing up. Adults and children are encouraged to dress in late-18th century fashion and experience life as a Shawnee during the weekend. Bellamy said costumes will be supplied for those wishing to wear the clothes of the time.
"If you want to dress up for the weekend and be a re-enactor, we have clothes," he said. "You'll have to give them back, but we'll fix you up for the weekend."
A life skills demonstration will take place on Saturday until noon. Bellamy said these demonstrations will include woodworking, candle-making and other instructional courses associated with late-18th century life.
Additionally, Bellamy said, "somebody's going to get convicted for something," serving as the basis for Saturday's mock Magistrate Court at 12:30 p.m.
Previously, the Brigade of the American Revolution was scheduled to accurately depict the lives of American Revolution-era soldiers on Sunday, but will now be at Krodel Park for the entire weekend. Brigade members will portray the lives of all army forces involved with the war, including the American, Native American, British, German, French and Spanish forces.
Bellamy said families throughout the state should attend and also take a look at other attractions around Point Pleasant. The only thing attendees need to be aware of, Bellamy said, is that when you walk into the fort, you leave the modern world behind.
Reach Jared Casto at
jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com,
304-348-4832 or follow
@JaredCasto on Twitter.