White Oak Fur Post - Rendezvous FAQ

A.You can walk through history and experience music, dance, blackpowder shooting,workshops, demonstrations, storytelling, voyageur competition, or even walk the mile long Gil Quaal Nature Trail. The site hosts different performance areas continuously all three days. On either of the two stages, you can enjoy a variety of folk and ethnic music, story telling, historians giving presentations, and 18th Century entertainers. Workshops are continuing throughout the three public days, taughts by White Oak Society's many interpreters and instructors.

We invite the interested modern campers to come early and join us during the "Closed Week" from Monday through Thursday, willing to "dress up" in period clothing, and join in the fun with the many activites planned especially for you before the three big public days! Call the White Oak office for a registration sheet to be mailed to you! 218-246-9393

White Oak Fur Post

You can visit our fully constructed 1798 Northwest Company Fur Post with staff dressed in the clothing of the period. They will be showing you the lifestyle of the people who lived here in northern Minnesota during the fur trade period.

Large Primitive Encampment

Over 100 tents and campfires create 80 acres of space in which to shop and listen to the entertainment and attend workshops. Over 100 "living history" re-enactors carry on their day-to-day lifestyle as it would have been done 200 years ago.

Arts and Crafts

Fully costumed merchants display and sell their wares. Artisans from many states attend including craftspersons and crafts such as blacksmithing, candle making, weaving and spinning, woodworking, clothing makers, painters, stoneware and porcelain pottery, scrimshaw, birch bark canoes and furniture building. All types of colonial period trades and products and sold and various skills of the artists are demonstrated each day.

Q. Is there food available?

A. A huge selection of the 18th & 19th century cuisine and specialty foods is offered by community groups and restaurants, as well as period licenced food vendors inside the Rendezvous cooking favorites like Fry bread in more ways than you can imagine!

Q. Should children come?

A. All types of activities and excitement are there for children to enjoy. There are games,storytelling, drills and ceremonies, voyageur camps, and tipi tours. There is something for the entire family.

Q. Where is the Rendezvous located?

A. Rendezvous is located in Deer River, Minnesota at the White Oak Fur Post. The site is about two minutes north of Highway 2 on Highway 6.

Q. Who runs the Rendezvous?

A. The White Oak Society who runs the event is a nonprofit organization with a volunteer board of directors and year round staff. The Rendezvous is helped by hundreds of volunteers and community organizations. We depend on this as a major fund raiser to keep our site, buildings, and bills kept up.

Q. What are some of the highlights of the Rendezvous?

A. Blackpowder shooting competition

B.Voyageur camp: See the entrance of different voyageur brigades in birch bark canoes as they come to "Rendezvous" for the day. Listen to their songs and challenge them to "cat and mouse".

C. Stage entertainment: Bands, duos, solos, dancers, and storytellers from throughout the United States perform each day. You can sit and eat a varied menu while you listen to your favorite performer under the shade of a grove of aspen trees.

Q. How much does it cost?

A. For information and order form write to White Oak Society Rendezvous,33155 State Hwy 6, Deer River, MN 56636-0306. You may also call 1-218-246-9393. This is a rain or shine event.

There is a daily admission charge. Adults $6.00 - Children 5 years and younger are free. Family passes are available at $20.00. daily, or $50 for all three days. Call or write for information for your club or organization.

Q. Can I bring my recreational vehicle or tent?

A. There is a campground or meadow camping plus rendezvous admission for your family for an all-inclusive price of $45.00 for all!!!

Q. Can the Rendezvous handle motorcoach tours?

A. Most definitely!!!! Step on guides are available with advance notice. There is a special drop off and pick up zone in the heart of the Rendezvous. Accessibility to the site and facilities, such as restrooms and buildings, is unlimited for all types of special needs or populations.

Q. How is the White Oak Society and Rendezvous supported?

A. Support, in part, is derived from the Blandin Foundation, State of Minnesota, Minnesota Office of Tourism, City of Deer River, Deer River Township, City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids VCB and Chamber of Commerce, Deer River Association of Commerce, volunteer memberships, admissions, food, beverage, mementos, corporate, business and individual donations.

Participant Questions About Rendezvous

Back to Spectator Questions

When should I plan to arrive at Rendezvous?

Are there any non-public areas available during Rendezvous?

When should I apply to participate in Rendezvous?

What if I change my mind about participating in Rendezvous, can I get a refund?

What types of trade goods are allowed?

What are some of the rules for participants at Rendezvous?

Q. When should I plan to arrive at Rendezvous?

A. Rendezvous for the public will be held the first full weekend in August each year. In 2007, it will again be three days for the public - August 3, 4, and 5, 2005! You are welcome to arrive and set up one week prior to Rendezvous. Contact us for the schedule for Participant Rendezvous prior to the weekend of the public rendezvous. There is no public allowed at any other times prior to, during or after Rendezvous.

Q. Are there any non-public areas available during Rendezvous?

A. We have non-public areas on our 60 acre site that you can use to be completely away from any public at all times during your visit.

Q. When should I apply to participate in Rendezvous?

Participant Registration Form

A. Submit an application as early as possible. This helps us get a "handle" on how many camps may be attending. We can process your application and speed up your registration upon arrival

Q. What types of trade goods are allowed?

A. Only pre 1840 goods are allowed. The following list will give you some idea of what can or cannot be traded.

No enamelware, no plastic packaging in sight, no stick on price tags. Signs about charge cards must be done in a primitive style.
No flutes (we do allow traditional ceremonial flutes), pop guns, drums, tin whistles, or other noise making items allowed.
No tee shirts, funky feathers, molded ceramics, feather hat bands or mandellas.

Q. What are some of the rules for participants at Rendezvous?

A. Here is a list of some basic expectations to help make Rendezvous a successful and pleasant experience for all of us.

Things you need to do at Rendezvous:

Unload your goods as quickly as possible.
Dig a fire pit, replace the plug and water the area before leaving.
Attend your fires and keep them under control at all times.
Return all unburned firewood to place of origin.
Take all garbage, in bags, to the dumpsters before you leave.
Keep ropes out of traffic patterns and service roads.
Keep pets under control and on a leash.
Keep parking permit on dashboard of your vehicle.
Drink from period containers.
Remain in period dress. This is required for children as well as adults.
Keep modern conveniences covered and out of sight; this includes enamelware.

Things you cannot do at Rendezvous

Dig trenches around tents.
Use chain saws or cutting of live trees or gathering of wood unless it is dead or down wood.
Allow your pet in food vendor camps.
Smoke modern cigarettes in public view.
Wear man-made fibers; no blue jeans, cowboy hats or boots, no baseball caps or tennis shoes.
Use gas, electric or battery powered lanterns.
Have loaded firearms in camp. You must be in fur trade period dress to compete in shooting competitions at the range.

Contact us if you need additional information or have other questions.


	Home Page \| Learning Centre \| Calendar \| Workshops \| Marketplace \| Journal \| Library On-Line Learning \| Links \| Guestbook \| Camping \| Interpretive Guide