WOODFORD — The Yellowstone Flint & Cap Club were gratuitous hosts at this year’s Bloody Lake Rendezvous, which celebrated 45 years. To commemorate this year’s anniversary, special medallions were created by Sheldon Pewter for those who registered for the event. The public enjoyed the ambiance of pioneer life and primitive living as events took place at Blackhawk Memorial Park in Woodford over the weekend.

Rendezvous 2026 had cooler temperatures, but was seasonal and pleasant overall.

School buses of students from around the area enjoyed the ambiance during Friday field trips. Several activities took place on Saturday morning, which included a band marching through the encampment.

The entire weekend was full of several family-friendly activities. Vintage treasures and tales of old were shared around campfires, picnic tables, and walks through nature. The camps were warm and inviting, offering a place to sit and visit near a warm crackling campfire.

Several people drove from many miles away to enjoy the simplistic nature of the sights and sounds that filled Blackhawk Memorial Park.

The pre-1840 living event displayed family friendly fun with historic significance, such as tomahawk and knife throwing events, and black powder shooting. Several encampment visitors were selling natural candy and food items. There were also trapping furs from wolf, beaver, elk, buffalo, fox, rabbit, squirrel and coyote. Other items for sale were nicely displayed on trading blankets, which included homemade clothing, home-spun yarn, clay mugs, animal horn mugs, handcrafted totes, woven bins, wood carvings, feathers, arrowheads, buffalo teeth, crochet clothing, fossil finds, handmade purses and pouches, as well as handcrafted jewelry made from leather, recycled silverware, glass beads, wood pieces, and stones, as well as other items that were hand-made with simplistic methods.

The family friendly atmosphere, was combined with the entire campground full of song, activities, and laughter.