Feast of the Hunters' Moon Festival
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.
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
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
DOROTHY
August 31, 2012 at 7:48 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PRICE OF THIS AVENT.
Jessy Yancey
September 4, 2012 at 8:15 am
For more information on the event, please visit http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/feast.htm or call 1-888-841-3244. Thanks!
Donna Verhoff
September 10, 2012 at 11:19 pm
What hotels are in the vicinity of the festival
Rachel Bertone
September 11, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Hi Donna,
Please visit http://www.homeofpurdue.com/stayingthenight.html or call 1-800-872-6648 for a list of hotels and accommodations in the area. Thanks!
Rachel Bertone
editor
My Indiana Home
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
Jo
September 16, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Is this event pet friendly?