METROPOLIS BRACES FOR CROWDS HEADED TO MASSAC ENCAMPMENT

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Parking could be a problem at the annual Fort Massac Encampment, to be held on the bluffs above the Ohio River Saturday and Sunday.

The annual encampment festival re-creates the British, French and colonial American military encampments that occupied the historic Fort Massac, between 1757 and 1814.

Due to road construction along Route 45, between the Fort Massac and Interstate 24, parking will not be held at the Massac County Fairgrounds this year. Designated parking areas will be held east of the fair grounds.

Shuttles will be operating both days, said a Fort Massac spokesman.

More than 100,000 people are expected for the annual event, which features re-enactors, musicians, crafters, and interpretive videos, all designed to pay tribute to Illinois' frontier history.

This weekend's attraction features authentically uniformed military re-enactors; working crafts people; musical melodies played by bagpipes, fifes and drums; and foods of an earlier era. Also included on the schedule are 18th century children's games, which will start about noon.

"Visitors get a real sense of what life was like on the Illinois frontier during the colonial and early American period in the late 18th and early 19th century," said Dick Coontz, event coordinator for the Illinois Department of Resources. "Fort Massac is perfect setting for the period crafts, music and battle re-creations.

Festivities start at 10 a.m. each day, with the posting of the colors, followed by music at the battlegrounds each day at 10:30, by the 42nd Royal Highlander's Bagpipe Band.

Mock military battle and tactic demonstrations are conducted both days of the event, and are narrated by a military historian.

"The battles do not depict any specific battle," said Coontz. "But the battles do depict how a typical battle of those times might have looked."

A voyagers canoe welcome will be held on the riverfront at 11:30 a.m. each day. The voyager canoes are similar to those used by French fur traders in the 1700s.

Period crafters will demonstrate 18th century candle-making, blacksmithing, weaving and other skills.

A year ago, nearly perfect weather conditions on Saturday helped the crowd at the 25th annual Fort Massac Encampment to swell to about 75,000, the biggest single day in the history of the encampment.

"It was wall-to-wall people," said one park supervisor.

Two years ago, more than 115,000 people crowded into Metropolis -- a town of about 7,500 -- over the two days period.

The Saturday schedule includes evening fireworks and a canon salute.

Visitors can view military camps and talk with buck skinners and other crafts people.

Fort Massac State Park is in Metropolis between Highway 45 and the Ohio River. It includes an interpretive center and old forts high on the banks of the river. Most of the camping facilities are full for the weekend.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday

10 a.m. -- Posting of colors.

10:30 a.m. -- 42nd Royal Highlanders Bagpipe Band, at the battleground.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Children games and activities.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fife and drum demonstrations.

11:30 a.m. -- Voyageurs Canoe Welcome, at the riverfront.

12:30 p.m. -- Children's Games, Children's Activities Area.

1 p.m. -- Fashion Show/

3 p.m. -- Mock battles and military drills, battle grounds.

5 p.m. Military Retreat ceremony.

6:15 p.m., Military unite weapons salute and special fireworks, riverfront.

7 p.m. closing ceremony.

Sunday

10 a.m. -- Posting of colors.

10:30 a.m. -- 42nd Royal Highlanders Bagpipe Band, at the battleground.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Children games and activities.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fife and drum demonstrations.

11:30 a.m. -- Voyageurs Canoe Welcome, at the riverfront.

12:30 p.m. -- Children's Games, Children's Activities Area.

1 p.m. -- Frontier Fashion Show/

3 p.m. -- Mock battles and military drills, battlegrounds.

4 p.m. -- Military Retreat, closing ceremony.