Feast of the Hunters' Moon facts for kids
The Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a fun festival held every October near West Lafayette, Indiana. Since 1968, it has brought history to life! The festival takes place at a recreated 18th-century French fort called Fort Ouiatenon. It celebrates the traditional "Hunters' Moon," which is the full moon in October.
Contents
Discovering Fort Ouiatenon's History
The Feast happens at Historic Fort Ouiatenon Park, right by the Wabash River. The main building, a blockhouse, is a copy of the first European fort in Indiana. This original fort was a French trading post. It was about a mile away from where the replica stands today.
Many different Native American groups visited Fort Ouiatenon. These included the Wea, Kickapoo, Mascouten, Neshnabe (Potawatomi), Piankashaw, Sauk, Fox, Seneca, Miyaamiaa Nations (Miami), Lenape (Delaware), and Shawnee. A large Native American village called Waayaahtanonki was across the river. Thousands of people lived in this area, often staying for parts of the year. The Wea people mainly lived in Waayaahtanonki. Today, the Miami of Indiana and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma are related to the Wea. Native American groups and French settlers often traded and lived together peacefully at the fort.
Experiencing the Festival and Reenactment
During the festival, people act out what life was like in the mid-1700s. They show how French settlers and Native Americans gathered at Fort Ouiatenon each fall. Participants wear clothes from the 18th century. You can see French soldiers, settlers, and Native Americans dressed in traditional outfits. Food vendors sell old-fashioned foods like rabbit stew and venison sausage. The festival also features music, marching, dancing, and recreated military drills.
Musical Performances at the Feast
Many different musicians perform at the event. You can hear Native American drummers. There are also historical folk music performers and French folksingers. You might even see period fife and drum corps playing old tunes.
Living History Presentations
The festival includes "living history" shows. These are like plays where people act as characters from the 1700s. They teach visitors about the lives and culture of that time. Each year, Native American participants build a temporary Wea village. This helps visitors understand how the Wea people lived. Interpreters dress in traditional Eastern Woodlands Indian clothing. They share stories about their communities' history.
For example, one interpreter played a Delaware Indian scout. His people lived along the Wabash River in the 1700s. They often lived peacefully with the French at the outpost. Other reenactors show different jobs from the past. You might see traders or gunsmiths. One reenactor played "Pierre Rolletof," who traded items like guns along the Wabash River. He also fixed guns as he traveled. Other people show crafts like chairmaking. One chairmaker built Windsor chairs, which took many hours to finish.
Size and Production of the Event
The Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a very popular event. In 2004, over 8,000 people took part in the festival. More than 60,000 visitors came to watch. The Tippecanoe County Historical Association helps put on the event. They work with the Tippecanoe County Parks Department. The festival happens on a weekend in late September or early October. The event celebrated its 44th year in 2011. In 2017, it marked its 50th anniversary, which was also the 300th anniversary of the fort. The event was cancelled in 2020 but started again in 2021.
