10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hundreds of re-enactors from across North America converge to re-create the annual summer gathering held at Fort William over 200 years ago when it was the inland headquarters of the North West Company! The historic re-enactment will include artisan workshops and demonstrations, guest speakers, a grand canoe arrival, contests, and more. More event details coming soon.
Completed applications are due on Friday, June 19, 2026, by 4 p.m. There is no cost to be a re-enactor.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore the historic site and visit the Anishinaabe Encampment, Apothecary, Great Hall, Wintering House, Trades Square, and Dairy, and visit with the farm animals.
English tours: Daily, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
French tours: Daily, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Take a guided tour of Fort William led by one of its inhabitants. Guided tours last approximately 1.5 hours.
Daily, 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. and 2:45 to 4:20 p.m.
Explore the historic Kaministiquia River by canoe while voyageurs entertain you with songs and stories.
Ages 12+ | Daily, 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Try your hand at throwing a trade axe! Voyageurs and tradesmen spend their leisure time trying to best one another in this game of precision and skill.
Daily, 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Experience the magic of science with two demonstrations from the past. Watch the world turn upside down with a camera obscura, then see sound become visible on a Chladni plate, where vibrations form geometric patterns before your eyes.
Ages 12+ | Daily, 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Fire a fur trade era musket! Firearms were an important trade item in 1815. Learn the skills you’ll need to use a fur trade era musket to hunt for your food.
Daily, 4 to 4:30 p.m.
Join Fort William’s inhabitants as they celebrate with singing and dancing in the Main Square.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sample and learn about historic fur trade foods (while supplies last).
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore the historic site to unravel riddles and test your fur trader knowledge.
Friday at 12 to 1 p.m.
Test your skill at Canada’s National summer sport. Did you know? Lacrosse originated as a sacred sport played by First Nations people for spiritual, ceremonial, and diplomatic purposes.
Daily, 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. and 2:45 to 4:20 p.m.
Explore the historic Kaministiquia River by canoe while voyageurs entertain you with songs and stories.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit with Thunder Bay Museum and make your own button.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit the satellite gift shop on the historic site for handmade items and more. Find more items in the Visitor Centre Trading Post Gift Shop, open until 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Our costuming team will make a dress in one (1) day using only 19th century tools and construction methods.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Witness the age-old tradition of turning fresh cream into golden butter.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discover the art of traditional fishnet weaving, a vital skill in Anishinaabe culture. Learn how this craft supported communities and connected generations through its time-honored techniques.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Watch the timeless craft of log hewing, a traditional woodworking skill used to shape and smooth logs for building.
Ages 12+ | Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Try your hand at throwing a trade axe! Voyageurs and tradesmen spend their leisure time trying to best one another in this game of precision and skill.
Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
This game of Indigenous origins will test your hand-eye coordination. The rules of the contest have been developed based on historical sources and references.
Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Witness the spectacle of many canoes arriving, echoing a time when these watercraft were essential to the exploration of our heritage river systems.
Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Send off the voyageurs as they embark on their journey back to Montreal headquarters and the wintering posts and find out what Louisa and Kenneth Mackenzie decide for their future.
Daily, 11:30 a.m.
Join a new clerk and an experienced guide of the North West Company as they embark on a quest to locate an important trading ledger before Mr. Taitt discovers it is missing.
Friday, 2:30 p.m.
Kenneth Mackenzie, proprietor of Fort William, receives a promotion and must relocate to Montreal. Will his wife, Louisa, and daughter go with him or choose to stay in the interior?
Daily, 12-2 p.m.
Discover the rich and complex history of the Canadian fur trade through this engaging speaker series. Guest speaker information coming soon.
Dr. Carolyn Podruchny’s lectures will explore the material, cultural, and deep relationships forged between two cultures, and how they came together to create Métis communities. Dr. Podruchny is a history professor at University of York and author of Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade.
Saturday, 1 to 2 p.m. – Making the Voyageurs World: French-Canadian Voyageurs Working in the Fur Trade
Often romanticized in pop culture, French-Canadian voyageurs were central figures in the fur trade’s demanding world. This talk explores their work, culture, and relationships with Indigenous communities, revealing the real lives behind the legends.
Sunday, 1 to 2 p.m. – Baptizing Novices: Ritual Moments in the Lives of Voyageurs
Voyageurs marked key milestones in their fur trade journeys with rituals that symbolized their growth and endurance. These ceremonies blended Catholic tradition with Indigenous influences, celebrating their changing world.
Sunday, 12 to 1 p.m.
Dr. Anne Lindsay’s lecture will explore chattel slavery during the early 19th century fur trade in British North America. Dr. Lindsay is a settler scholar whose work has focused on settler interactions with Indigenous peoples. She was formerly an archivist for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.
Friday and Saturday, 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Learn about Métis river lots with a guest re-enactor from the Manitoba Living History Society.
Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Prepare for a future career as a clerk in this handwriting workshop with a guest re-enactor from the Manitoba Living History Society.
Friday and Saturday, 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Learn beginner Red River Métis style beading with a guest re-enactor from the Manitoba Living History Society.
Friday, 12 to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Learn about the skill of finger weaving and the cultural significance of the voyageur sash.
Friday, 3:30 to 4 p.m.
Using historical ropes, unravel the art of tying knots crucial for sailing, exploration, and survival during the 19th century. Maximum 15 participant spots available.
Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.
Try your hand at weaving a row of tumpline.
Sunday, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Learn Bannock baking methods at the Anishinaabe Encampment. Make and enjoy your own iconic tasty treat. Weather permitting.
Friday, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Learn the art of letter writing using India ink, dip pens, and fine paper. Participants will craft their unique letter, ready to send to a friend or family member, and seal it with a wax stamp for an extra personal touch. Maximum 15 participant spots available.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join the Métis Nation of Ontario Summer Youth Program for a creative craft activity inspired by Métis culture and tradition.
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Cantine offers a variety of menu items featuring both heritage and contemporary cuisines. Event menu coming soon.
Pineapple slaw and choice of Carolina Gold, Cajun BBQ, or Carolina Glaze
House smoked chili, cheddar cheese, pineapple slaw and crispy onions
with smoked jalapeno crema
with vegan slaw
Cheese curds and house gravy
Coke, Diet Coke, Ginger Ale, Diet Ginger Ale, 7up, Juice
The Personal Attendant for Leisure (PAL) Card is an identification card, which is issued to a person who has a disability. It allows the support person to enter a Thunder Bay recreation facility for free. A support person can be a friend, family member or a paid worker.
Admission fees include HST.
+ HST
The season pass provides you with year-round admission to the Fort William historic site and admission to the following Fort William Historical Park events: The Great Rendezvous, Halloween Hoot, New Year’s Eve Family Frolic, and Voyageurs Winter Carnival. Admission to Canada Day, Anishinaabe Keeshigun and Celtic Day is free for all visitors. The season pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase. Learn more about the season pass.
Weather appropriate clothing: This is an all weather program and takes place indoors and outdoors.
Cash: There are no ATMs available on site.
Car: Fort William Historical Park is located at 1350 King Road, Thunder Bay. Parking is free.
Bicycle: Cyclists are welcome. Bike racks are available to use free of charge.
Thunder Bay Transit: Fort William Historical Park is accessible by the 4 Neebing bus route. Please visit the City of Thunder Bay Transit website for specific bus route information.
Boats & River Access: Boats cannot dock at events. There is no admissions entrance via the Kaministiquia River.
RVs: Camping is permitted at our campground with a reservation. RVs are not permitted in the parking lot for overnight stays.