CELEBRATING THE DES PLAINES RIVER VALLEY -
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Contact: Stan Johnson, Rendezvous Director (708) 937-0009 or canalone@aol.com

September 11, 2007 - Willow Springs, IL
Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable offers an unforgettable journey through Chicago's history. Chicago celebrities, storytellers, and natives create an unforgettable journey through Chicago land's history.

Come and enjoy the brisk weather and beautiful fall colors at "A River Thru History --The Des Plaines Valley Rendezvous." This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come and view Chicago land in a way other than high rises, theatres, and ballparks. With school starting back up, this Rendezvous offers an opportunity to break away from the history books and see first hand what early settlement life was really like. Don't just read about it or watch on the History Channel. Live it for yourself! Among the plentiful storytelling, various activities will be set so that guests may truly feel as though they were part of 18th century America. On Saturday September 29th from 10am to 5pm and Sunday September 30 from 10am to 4 pm all are welcome to the Columbia Woods Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, Illinois to live first hand what the History Channel attempts to portray. This living history event will be held on September 29 & 30, 2007 in Columbia Woods Forest Preserve on the banks of the Des Plaines River in Willow Springs, Illinois. Admission is $8/Adults, $3/Children 6-12, $4/Seniors, $15/Family Pass. Free parking is at the UPS lot, enter of 75th St. only or just follow the signs. For safety sake, "drive-ins" or "walk-ins" to the Rendezvous site are not allowed. A free shuttle bus from the UPS lot will take you to the Rendezvous camps.

After 17 years of hosting the I & M Canal Rendezvous, many felt that it was time to call it quits. However, after taking a year off in 2006 and after much support from the community and the Forest Preserve Distract of Cook County, the event is back with a new name, "A River Thru History-- The Des Plaines Valley Rendezvous," with an impressive list of activities! For the main attraction the Rendezvous cordially invites back Chicago's first celebrity and founder Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable. In 1775, this French Jamaican became the first permanent resident of what was to become our "sweet home" Chicago. Jean Baptiste takes his audience back over 300 years to when he built the first permanent settlement on the Chicago River around the present day Michigan Avenue. His boomingly deep voice and amiable aura captures you into the heart of his stories. What better way to learn about Chicago than by the man who founded it!

Guests are also invited to listen to Voyeur Story Teller Extraordinaire Andy Talley as he takes you on through the incredible journeys of the earliest explorers while Lou Aiello offers demonstrations of Native American crafts and games which include fire making, rope making, dream catcher making and much more! In addition there will be an authentic Native American village with five different wigwams demonstrating daily life in such an encampment. Also, one can witness the productions of cloth from the carding of real wool through the entire spinning wheel process. The Rendezvous has added even more to activities to the festival. Now visitors may take advantage of Sun Carving demonstrations (only if the sun is shining) and speak with an old fashion land surveyor and listen to his presentation on how the country was originally surveyed and laid out.

Unfortunately the Bears, Cubs, Sox, and Bulls did not come about for about another 200 years so the settlers had found a plethora of other ideas to have fun. Guests are invited to play the pre-1840s style of cricket, which they had learned from the English. Tom Melville, historian and American cricket player, will be conducting the early 19th Century form of Cricket tournaments. All are welcome to relive this long lost sport at games that will be run continuously on a walk up basis throughout each day. There is no age limit and absolutely no experience required!

Now, what would a Rendezvous be without some live music and great tasting food? Come and get a taste of different music styles that developed at this time. Innisfree offers a more traditional Celtic style with instruments such as dulcimers, a flute and acoustic guitar. Not only will there be a professional Bag Piper, but she will also offer demonstrations on how the instrument is used and may even offer a few lessons to those daring enough to give it a shot! In addition, the forever a favorite River Valley Colonial Fife and Drum Corp will march and play through and around the event. While enjoying the various artists and different music sounds enjoy a mug of old fashioned root beer and a bag of freshly made kettle corn! Other delicious options include wild rice stew, chicken and dumpling soup, and sausage on a stick.

Another new component is the "River Expo: Celebrating the Des Plaines River Valley - Past, Present and Future." In addition to the traditional "Past" we are inviting a number of organizations to showcase themselves with regards to their "Present" activities and their "Future" plans for the River Valley. Also this year we are inviting modern day canoeist to join the Voyageur canoes at the Rendezvous. If they canoe in they get in free! But they must put-in and take-out either up-stream or down-stream from the Rendezvous. Canoes rentals are available from "Will-U-Canoe" and they can be contacted at 708-937-4945.

There are countless opportunities to dive into the culture that developed at the early beginnings of our beautiful city. The Rendezvous offers the chance to see first hand what the textbooks cannot show you and let you live it for yourself! Come take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that is fun for the whole family. With plenty activities, music, and wonderful food, you may be entertained from morning to night! For more information about "A River Thru History - The Des Plaines Valley Rendezvous" please visit the website at www.ariverthruhistory.com or call 800-926-2262 for general information or 708-937-0009 with specific questions.

Return to News and Media