South Platte ValleyHistorical Society
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Lancaster Rendezvous & Mountain Man University

This rendezvous is held every Memorial Day Weekend and kicks off the summer rendezvous season for many fur trade period re-enactors

Reenactors and children in period dress around a cook fire and kettles, with wall tents and flags

The 2026 Lancaster Rendezvous has passed. Held every Memorial Day Weekend.

2026 dates

Early set-up
May 17, 2026
Camp dates
May 18-24, 2026
TRT meeting
TRT Membership & Camp Meeting, May 23, Sat 10am
Where
The rendezvous camp area of the historic park
After dark
Only campers in pre-1840 clothing are allowed in the rendezvous area
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The spring rendezvous

Being the spring rendezvous, the rendezvous camp area of the South Platte Valley Historical Society Historic Park is greening up. Big leafy cottonwood trees provide shade and the fresh grassy areas provide a comfortable place to set up camp. Nearby, snowmelt is running down the Platte River.

Camp rules

  • Non re-enactor visitors are welcome during the day.
  • At the end of the day only campers in pre-1840 clothing are allowed in the rendezvous area.
  • There is a separate area for “Tin Teepees” and modern camp setups.
  • Early set-up allows campers and traders to establish their camp the weekend before the rendezvous.
  • Camps must be broken down the last day of the rendezvous.

Mountain Man University classes

The Mountain Man University program runs during the Lancaster Rendezvous, with classes such as soap making, blacksmithing and music.

The 2026 class schedule was published as a draft. You can still download it.

  • The wide, shallow South Platte River with a sandbar and cottonwoods
  • A huge old cottonwood tree in late light beside a grassy path
  • People in period dress seated in a circle under the cottonwoods in low sun
  • Reenactors in period clothing gathered at a trade table in a spring-green meadow

Other rendezvous

Held by the Tallow River Trappers, the living history department of the society.