Feast of the Hunters' Moon Festival

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Fort Ouiatenon; Blockhouse Museum; Lafayette; Lafayette, Indiana; Feast of the Hunter’s Moon; Hunter's Moon

Lafayette-West Lafayette hosts many festivals throughout the year, but the local favorite is Feast of the Hunters’ Moon. The 45th annual feast will take place October 4-5, 2014, at historic Fort Ouiatenon Park, located just south of West Lafayette on the banks of the Wabash River.

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Fort Ouiatenon, a 1700s-era fur trading post, was the first fortified European settlement in Indiana. The festival commemorates the annual fall gathering of French traders and American Indians with a full-scale re-enactment of frontier life in the mid-18th century. More than 3,000 participants dress in costume and demonstrate crafts, such as chair caning, basket weaving, barrel making and blacksmithing, using authentic tools, materials and methods.

Following the opening ceremony, attendees are treated to the sight of the Voyageurs – French traders that transported furs – aboard birch bark canoes landing and unloading as they would have when the trading post was in its heyday.

The festive, family-friendly atmosphere bustles with Highland games, American Indian dancing and the hubbub of soldier encampments. No feast would be complete without an abundance of food, and Feast of the Hunter’s Moon does not disappoint. Some of the foods prepared over an open fire include bison burgers, bison stew, corn on the cob and fry bread. Merchants offer for sale replicas of blankets, period clothing and jewelry, leather goods, pewter, toys, American Indian items, woven goods and packaged foods.

Kids’ activities include a Tall Tale trading booth, a place where they can try on traditional clothing, and hands-on crafting.

For more information, call 1-888-841-3244 or visit www.homeofpurdue.com

8 Comments

  1. Stefanie Burrell

    August 22, 2012 at 8:49 am

    What time does the event start?

    • Jessy Yancey

      August 27, 2012 at 10:20 am

      Hi Stefanie,

      Feast of the Hunters’ Moon takes place on Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. Thanks!

      Jessy Yancey
      editor
      My Indiana Home

  2. DOROTHY

    August 31, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PRICE OF THIS AVENT.

  3. Donna Verhoff

    September 10, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    What hotels are in the vicinity of the festival

  4. orville greene

    September 17, 2012 at 7:22 am

    The Niagara River Iroquois Dancers will be returning to perform Social Dances and play the oldest game in North America;Lacrosse

  5. Jo

    September 16, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Is this event pet friendly?

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Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) precautions and travel advisories, many upcoming events have been canceled or postponed. Please check with local tourism offices and event organizers for the most up-to-date information.
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