Crowds step back in time at 2025 Fort Connah Rendezvous
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ST. IGNATIUS — Beneath sunny skies and the sound of cannon fire, the Fort Connah Restoration Society welcomed guests to its annual Rendezvous this past weekend, a lively and educational celebration of Montana’s frontier past.
The 2025 Fort Connah Rendezvous delivered a vibrant mix of historical reenactments, live demonstrations, cultural performances, and old-fashioned family fun. From the opening ceremonies featuring local bagpipers, a Native American drum group, and the much-anticipated black powder and candy cannons, the day was packed with excitement and a strong sense of community.
Visitors explored a walled tent camp filled with reenactors in full period dress, watched black powder shooting demonstrations, and browsed the bustling trading post where vendors sold handmade crafts and historically inspired goods. Food trucks, a fry bread booth with huckleberry butter, and a community bake sale kept guests well-fed, while a horse-drawn carriage added a special charm, ferrying people to and from the historic fort under the warmth of the summer sun.
Mark Willoughby, a member of the American Mountain Men Association, brought an impressive display of historically accurate rifles and pistols. “When you’re with the American Mountain Men, you have to live the way people used to live,” he said. “We came out for the event since we like to camp in historical sites to get as close to historically accurate as possible.” His collection drew in curious visitors eager to learn about the tools and traditions of the mountain men era.
Gary Steele, demonstrating primitive survival skills, showcased the ancient atlatl spear-throwing technique. “I’ve been coming out to this event for years to enjoy what the event does with exposing people to the old ways and getting them away from the digital world,” he said.
For many, the highlight was simply the opportunity to experience history firsthand. “Today’s pretty interesting,” said attendee Mark Otter, who came with his family. “Getting to see history in action and getting to see how things used to be makes a great day.”
Jessica Dauterive, one of the many dedicated volunteers helping run the event, noted a special change this year. “This year is different since we had a lot more vendors who took over the actual trading post and are authentic to what would have been in the trading post,” she said. Alongside her, Shanon Hahn added, “We have a lot more historical reenactors who are here to interact with the guests and to help bring the past to life.” Both Dauterive and Hahn are descendants of the founders of Fort Connah and continue working to preserve its history for future generations.
The annual Rendezvous continues to be an educational living history event in which dedicated volunteers bring past eras to life.
