ROCHESTER — Although three damaged buildings are not fixed, the round barn has a new roof and the annual Redbud Trail Rendezvous will go on. Fudge lovers will be happy to know that Mark Gropp will be back with his bagpipe music and fudge for sale in the Old Time General Store. Many other crafts and historic camps will create an atmosphere of stepping into the past.

Since 1990, the Redbud Trail Rendezvous has brought fun history to northern Indiana. Often the first living history event of the spring, it portrays Indiana history from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. The Redbud Trail Rendezvous will be April 29-30. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The rendezvous will be set up on the south side of the round barn and living history village at the Fulton County Historical Society grounds 4 miles north of Rochester on U.S. 31. Admission is $3 for adults, and free for children age 11 and under.

For more information, go online or contact FCHS at (574) 223-4436 or [email protected]. Rain or Shine the festival will go on. 

Historic camps portray Revolutionary War to Civil War, making this a pre-1865 event. People dressed in authentic pre-1865 outfits demonstrate many traditional crafts. Crafts include flint knapping, beadwork, spinning and weaving, leather, watercolor painting, pewter casting, wood carving, blacksmith, scrimshaw, fingerweaving, and much more.

Performing at the program tent both days will be: Mark Gropp, Orland, with bagpipe music; Mark & Liza Woolever – music and dance; Marsha Glassburn, Plymouth – Native American Indian storyteller; Sunday only – Shirley Willard, Rochester – Indiana Indian Day; Saturday only, Soarin Hawk – Shirley Needham.

Sunday only, Kim Hoover, Star City, will show birds from their wildlife rehabilitation.

Foods cooked over wood fires will include ham and beans, vegetable stew, buffalo burgers, sassafras tea, and breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy – Fulton County Historical Society booth; and homemade fudge and cookies – Mark Gropp, Orland, Ind.

Because the Farmers Market will be in the museum Saturday morning, the north gate to the rendezvous will be by the round barn. Also at the south gate, located off Meridian Road, admission will be collected before they park. The Fulton County Museum, Round Barn Museum and buildings in the Living History Village will be open for people to view.

Volunteers can earn free admission to the Redbud Trail Rendezvous by working half a day. To volunteer, call the museum at (574) 223-4436. Free parking is provided on FCHS grounds. The grounds are handicapped accessible.

Programs in Program Tent by picnic tables:

• 11 – 11:30 a.m  Marsha Glassburn – Native American Indian Storyeller
• 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.  Mark Gropp, Orland, Ind. – Bagpipe music
• 12:30 – 1 p.m. Nan Edwards and Margo Moore  Watervliet, Michigan – Travois dogs.
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.  Marsha Glassburn – Native American Indian Storyeller – Saturday only
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.  Shirley Willard, Rochester – Indiana Indian Day Apology Report – Sunday only
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.  Soarin’ Hawk – Shirley Needham  – Saturday only
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Kim Hoover – Birds of Prey – Sunday only
• 2:30 – 3 p.m. Mark & Liza Woolever – Music sing-along with children of all ages
• 3 – 3:30 p.m.  Marsha Glassburn – Native American Indian Storyeller
• Marsha Glassburn, Plymouth – Native American Indian storyteller – various times
• Mark & Liza Woolever – strolling musicians

Traditional Crafts demonstrated and sold by:

• Bruce Eltzroth, Lagro, & Dana Farmer, Wabash – children’s games & toys
• Linda Fife, Delphi – Spinning
• Steve Kirkpatrick, Edwardsburg, MI – wood carver
• John E Timmons, Logansport  – sash weaving
• Merle Miller, Laporte, IN – pewter casting
• Dale Pace, Rochester – flint knapping, watercolor painting  in Polka House (white)
• Fred Oden & various blacksmiths in Blacksmith shop – red building
• Margo Moore, Watervliet, MI – travois dog – Sunday only

Foods cooked over wood fires in the Living History Village south of Round Barn: buffalo burgers,  ham & beans, cornbread, vegetable stew, lemonade, coffee, sassafras tea. Breakfast: biscuits and sausage gravy.

Mark Gropp, Orland, Ind. – fudge and cookies.  – in General Store (green house)

Funding from this event helps to keep the museum open and preserve history. Have a great day at the Redbud!