Residents will have the opportunity to “warp” back into time this next weekend and see more than 150 years of history in action.

The fifth annual Chief Logan’s Port of Living History Festival is scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27 at the Cass County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The event features historical reenactments from 1730 through the late 1800s, allowing visitors a look back in time.

The Chief Logan’s Port of Living History Festival is dedicated to promoting heritage, history, and frontier spirit of the forefathers, including French and Indiana War soldiers, Revolutionary War militia, long hunters, mountain men, Native Americans and frontier settlers.

Festival co-chair Rainy Monahan said it’s important to continue the festival event each year.

“We are trying to teach,” she said. “It is living history and by continuing it, more and more people will become involved in it.”

She hopes that each year more people will want to know about it and become better educated, especially children.

“We want to get more people involved in the heritage of the county,” she added.

Last year, the festival moved to the fairgrounds as its expanding activities no longer fit at France Park.

This year, festival co-chairs Marquita Young and Monahan have been working hard with other volunteers to further expand the annual event.

This year’s activities will include educators and demonstrators, such as wood carvers, sand painters, weavers, leather workers, bead workers, knife makers, and a baker making breads and pies. Historians and story tellers will offer a look back into history.

Kim Hoover, with “Hoots and Howls” Wildlife Rehabilitation will be present with several animals. She will be at the festival from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Those in attendance can even take an opportunity to visit several indoor and outdoor vendors selling items related to the time period. Music and games will be set up for people of all ages to enjoy.

Food vendors will include elephant ears, barbecue, and several local businesses, including Wabash Valley Bison, which is also donating a buffalo hide winter robe. The robe will be raffled off at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $10 each and the winner does not need to be present to claim the prize.

Monahan said the educational value of the festival is priceless.

“We go out and actually live like they did in 1800s,” she said. “In my opinion if people can actually see it, they take in more than reading.”

She pointed out people will remember more because they can use all the senses to remember what they learn during the weekend.

“They can smell the food cooking over open fire, actually see what is going on, touch furs, and witness demonstrations, which you don’t find in a book,” she said.

Monahan also feels the living history is more appealing to children, who seem to learn more by watching than reading.

The festival is different from many others, Monahan explained. She said many places try to stay with a certain time period, such as just the 1840s.

“We are trying to encompass anything pre-1840s even the Renaissance, if we can get someone into it,” she said.

People will also be able to witness a cannon demonstration and march with small cannons. The Girl Scouts are suppose to come out and help with old-fashioned candle making.

When the event is all said and done, Monahan said she hopes the community will take one main thing away from it.

“We hope people when they leave, they will have a better understanding of how their ancestors lived,” she said.

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com



Want to go?

What: Chief Logan’s Port of Living History Festival

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27

Where: Cass County 4-H Fairgrounds

Cost: Parking fee of $3 per vehicle. Admission is free.

Web site: www.chieflogan.bravehost.com