Fort Union Rendezvous
- Dates
- Expected June 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, 15550 Highway 1804, Williston, ND 58801 (on the North Dakota-Montana border, about 26 miles southwest of Williston)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
Fort Union Rendezvous comes to Williston, ND, Expected June 2027. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
Fort Union Rendezvous is the National Park Service's biggest annual event at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, on the Missouri River at the North Dakota-Montana border. Over several days each June, more than 100 reenactors and living historians recreate a 19th-century fur trade fair inside the accurately reconstructed fort - black powder shooting demonstrations, period arts, crafts and music, interpretive talks and reenactments of historical trade negotiations - and admission and parking are free.
What people love
Visitors repeatedly describe the site and its living history as a highlight, calling it well done and worth the effort to reach this remote spot; several say they spent far longer than planned and rank it among the best stops on a Dakotas trip, praising the practical demonstrations and the chance to learn about the fur trade and the region's Native American trading traditions.
Last time around
The 43rd Annual Fort Union Rendezvous ran June 18-21, 2026 as a 19th Century Fur Trade Fair, with more than 100 reenactors, demonstrations of black powder shooting, period music performances and reenactments of historical trade negotiations, plus period arts and crafts. Admission and parking were free.
See it before you go
See the grounds
Costumes & what to wear
Do I need a costume?
Visitors attend for free and do not need a costume, the period portrayal is done by the living historians in the encampment
Costume rules
For participating reenactors and living historians, clothing, camp equipment and materials should be representative of the fur-trade period; posted guidelines describe period garments (drop-front or French-fly breeches or pants, leggings and breechclouts, a blanket coat, capote, short jacket or gentleman's frock coat). General-public visitors are not required to dress in period
Weapons policy
Living-history demonstrations include black powder shooting; period weapons are handled by demonstrators
Joining in
Visitors can watch black powder shooting demonstrations, period arts and crafts, traditional music, interpretive talks and reenactments of historical trade negotiations, and explore the reconstructed fort and its encampment. Scheduled activities have run roughly 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
Getting there
No travel details for Fort Union Rendezvous yet.
Been there, or know the area? Help us add it, a real person checks every tip.
Where
Exact location not mapped yet.
Venue
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, 15550 Highway 1804, Williston, ND 58801 (on the North Dakota-Montana border, about 26 miles southwest of Williston)
Camping & Accommodation
No camping or lodging details for Fort Union Rendezvous yet.
Been there, or know the area? Help us add it, a real person checks every tip.
Pricing
Historical context
The Fort Union Rendezvous is a living-history event recreating the 19th-century fur trade at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. The historic Fort Union, built and owned by the American Fur Company, was the principal trading post on the upper Missouri River from 1828 to 1867, where the Assiniboine and other Northern Plains nations traded buffalo robes and furs for manufactured goods. The fur-trade era was followed by the loss of Native lands and ways of life across the Northern Plains. The site is administered by the National Park Service.
National Park Service - Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site ↗
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.