Old Wadena Rendezvous set for weekend

The 2003 Old Wadena Rendezvous will be staged Saturday and Sunday at the Old Wadena County Park, six miles north and west of Staples.

Scattered around the park grounds this year will be several demonstrations of weaving, basket making, quilting and other crafts. Artisans on Saturday will make useful folk art, from canoes to quilts to Indian flutes. Members of the Piecemakers Quilt group of Staples will stage a show and demonstration of quilting during the day.

Saturday's events will include an Irish fiddle player's workshop and an Irish music performance, along with performances by the Granary Girls from Evansville and Annie Humphrey, a contemporary Anishinaabe singer. Humphrey was the Native American Music Awards 2001 Female Artist of the Year.

Back after several years' absence is Ethel (Terry) Lovelace of Staples, who will give sessions on Native American culture and lifestyles. A member of the Lakota tribe, she has presented similar programs nationwide.

Back from last year will be the stagecoach rides and an Anishinaabe drum and dance performance. This year the drum and dance group from the Bemidji Anishinaabe Center and Red Lake Band of Ojibwe will perform.

The Crow Wing Muzzleloaders Club will stage its annual rendezvous, re-enacting the fur traders rendezvous encampment of the pre-1840s. Visitors can stroll through the grounds, talk to the buckskinners and get a feel for the life of the fur traders by observing and talking to the re-enactors.

The Muzzleloaders hold their own contests, including archery and "hawk and knife" throwing contests. They will have a fire starting demonstration and hold other events throughout the day. Visitors are welcome to try their hand at tossing a tomahawk at a target a few feet away and other contests.

Saturday's scheduled events will end with a 5 p.m. performance of "Pass My Imperfections Lightly By," a play about the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. Mary Harrison has presented this play at the Long Lake Theatre at Shell River and will recreate it at Old Wadena.

Sunday's events will include a 10 a.m. outdoor worship service for all, with music provided by bagpiper Kevin Beard; an Indian flute music performance by Jon Romer at 11 a.m.; another talk by Ethel Lovelace at noon; and a 1 p.m. storytelling contest led by Sonja Kosler of rural Dent, who has led storytelling programs at Old Wadena the past two years.

The Old Wadena Rendezvous is held annually the second weekend of August at the Old Wadena County Park, just off Wadena County Road 29 on 140th Street. All events are open to the public There is a $5 parking fee for each vehicle.