The 12th annual Benton Fremont Festival and Te Tonka Ha Rendezvous and Hehdoka Knap In at Hole-in-the-Mountain Park will provide an opportunity for locals to get a hands-on experience of life in the 1800s.
A replica 1800s camp complete with wagons and traders, as well as an "Old Town Benton," will be the stage for the weekend, home to period art, various demonstrations, country western music and food.
"The park is pretty well ready to go," said Carl Burk, an organizer of the event.
Preparation of the decor required a community effort.
"The Arts Department got the grounds really looking good," he said. "They are clean and ready to go for shooting black powder."
The town also installed old storefronts over a section of buildings, said Burk, bringing the Old Town Lake Benton to life for the weekend.
"People can come and walk through, ask questions and enjoy it," Burk said.
Traders Row is open this evening through the weekend, selling items such as clothing, jewelry, tea, tomahawks, soap and honey.
These displays and vendors help create the atmosphere of living in the valleys around Lake Benton in the 1800s, said Burk.
However, it would not be complete without games and entertainment for the kids. Along with activities such as rock painting, sack races and bobbing for apples, entertainment for the weekend will consist of various art demonstrations throughout the park and plenty of country western music.
The Chalet Flintknappers will demonstrate how to carve tools all weekend just as hunters of the past did. They offer a hands-on experience for the guests, said Burk.
"It's great for the kids," he said.
Guests will seemingly enter a whole new world when they walk through the Swanson Family Cowboyography display. It will show "what it was like for early cowboys traveling along," Burk said.
Another display consisting of a chuckwagon, 1800s period food and family music will also be set up to bring guests back in time.
Burk said the event is a combination of "a history festival and a rendezvous."
A few prizes up for grabs include a star quilt by the Cheyenne River Sioux and a print by Jack Burk. Winners will be drawn at 3 p.m. Sunday.
For more information call 507-368-9577 ext. 2.
Schedule
Today
Traders Row opens Friday evening
Range open for practice
All evening: Flintknapping demonstrations
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: Silver Creek Mavericks rob bank at Center and Benton Street
7 p.m.: Music on Stage - Lonny Carpenter
Saturday
Traders Row open - Artist demonstrations
All day: Shooting events - Hawk and Knife throw at the range
All day: Flintknapping Demonstrations
11 a.m.- 1p.m.: Corn boil (good will donation)
Noon.: Pottery demonstration - Dave Hubner
1 p.m.: Swanson Family Cowboyography; open demonstrations by area artists (Art for Kids)
2 p.m.: Silver Creek Mavericks - Main Cabin
3 p.m.: Victorian Memories by Jackie Theis; open demonstrations - spinning/weaving
4 p.m: American Indian storytelling and dancing
5-6:30 p.m.: Burger Feast - meal by Chamber of Commerce, $5
5-6 p.m.: Treava Lundberg
6 p.m.: Music on stage - Ron Cote
7:30 p.m.: Music on stage - 1900s campfire music
Sunday
Traders Row open - Artist demonstrations
All day: Shooting events at the Range
All day: Flintknapping demonstrations; Swanson Family Cowboyography
9 a.m.: Church service by Grace Lutheran - Winds of the Prairie
Noon.: Entertainment - Ron and Jane Cote; Buffalo stew (ticket required); Corn boil (good will donation); pie social by Catholic Ladies CCW
2 p.m.: Silver Creek Mavericks
3 p.m.: Prizes and drawings