Mountain Man Rendezvous this weekend

By Staff, 03/8/21 9:55 AM

PRESCOTT – For those interested in history, this weekend in Prescott will be the chance of a lifetime.

The 27th Annual Southwest Regional Mountain Man Rendezvous will be held at the Prairie D’Ane Battlefield off Hwy. 19. More than 200 “mountain men”and their families are expected to be on hand, setting up shop, offering their wares – items made like they were in the 19th century.

The event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on March 13-14 and March 20. The rest of the time will be for those participating in the rendezvous. A group of 15 mountain men and their families were at the site in November, getting a feel for the place, and having fun. Paul Ridgell, a Civil War reenactor and caretaker of the property, has been working to get the battlefield ready for this rendezvous, making sure there will be enough parking and passable roads.

Things aren’t easy for those who make their wares by hand as materials aren’t always easy to get – especially tin and copper. While some modern tools are used, everything is primarily made by hand.

The upcoming rendezvous will have plenty of events for adults and children. There will be a primitive archery shoot, fire making contest, cooking contest, knife and hawk throw, smooth boar and rifle shoots, highland games, round robins, pie contest and pistol shoots, among others. Games for children include daily quests and a special treasure hunt.

There will also be daily raffles, colleges and seminars, demonstrations and plenty of items for sale. Firewood and water will be available at the site, with showers off site. One of the raffle items is a handmade knife with a value of $500.