Dubois County Hosts 'Revolutionary Rendezvous' for America's 250th

Three-day event features living history demonstrations and reenactments at Ferdinand State Forest.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:52am

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A bold, pop art-inspired illustration featuring a colonial-era musket rifle repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in a vibrant neon color palette with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the historical reenactments and living history demonstrations at the 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous' event.The living history demonstrations and reenactments at the 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous' event aim to immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of America's revolutionary past.Dubois Today

The Dubois County Historical Society is hosting a three-day event called 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous, Circa 1776' at Ferdinand State Forest to celebrate America's upcoming 250th anniversary. The free event features live demonstrations, historical costumes, battlefield reenactments, and musical entertainment to give visitors a hands-on history lesson and a chance to step back in time.

Why it matters

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, events like this help preserve and share the country's revolutionary history through immersive living history experiences. The Dubois County Historical Society is aiming to educate families and the broader community about the people, places, and events that shaped the nation's founding.

The details

The three-day 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous, Circa 1776' event will feature a variety of historical demonstrations and reenactments. Visitors can watch battlefield reenactments, listen to historians share stories from the past, and enjoy period-appropriate musical entertainment. Organizers say the goal is to bring history to life and give attendees a chance to step back in time and learn about America's revolutionary era through hands-on experiences.

  • The event started today, April 11, 2026.
  • The event will continue tomorrow, April 12, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • The event will conclude on Sunday, April 13, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The players

Dubois County Historical Society

The organization hosting the 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous, Circa 1776' event to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

Tom Merkly

A 'long hunter' demonstrator who will be sharing historical skills and knowledge at the event.

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What they’re saying

“'It comes back to what we called living history where people will study it, a certain persona just like a long hunter, the blacksmith and they study that and they work those skills so they learn the old ways in order to teach those old ways.'”

— Tom Merkly, Long hunter demonstrator

The takeaway

Events like the 'Dubois 2026: A Revolutionary Rendezvous' provide valuable opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate America's history through immersive, educational experiences. By bringing the past to life, organizers hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the people and events that shaped the nation's founding.