Big Island Rendezvous - Albert Lea, MN

When is the Big Island Rendezvous?

In the fall during the colorful foliage season! Rendezvous is always the first Saturday and Sunday in October. (October 5-6, 2024, October 4-5, 2025, October 3-4, 2026). Rendezvous opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM on Saturday and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday.
 

What is the Big Island Rendezvous?

The Minnesota Office of Tourism voted The Big Island Rendezvous one of the state's Top 25 Festivals. It is a celebration of history during the fur trade period (1650 - 1840) and early Frontier America (1750-1880) including the Civil War Era and Pioneer Settlement (1840-1800).
 

What are some of the activities during the Big Island Rendezvous?

Entertainment:

The festival hosts different performance areas with music and dance continuously throughout both days. The entrance stage has a sound system adjacent to the food court area. The performers minstrel around the grounds to give a more intimate performance to smaller audiences under the trees. Celtic, Bluegrass, Gaelic, old time country, gospel and Cajun music are some of the types of performances presented.

Arts & Crafts:

Properly attired re-enactors display and sell their wares. Artisans from 8 states attend including crafts persons and crafts such as blacksmithing, candle making, weaving and spinning, silver smithing, copper working, woodworking, clothing makers, painters, stoneware and porcelain pottery, scrimshaw, gunsmithing, birch bark canoes and furniture building. All types of colonial period trades and products are sold and various skills of the artists are demonstrated each day.

Period Encampments:

Over 300 tents and campfires created 12 acres of atmosphere in which to shop and listen to the entertainment. Over 1,200 living history re-enactors carry on their day-to-day lifestyles, as it would have been done over 200 years ago in the New World. No modernisms are allowed on site so you see no vehicles or modern plastic tents. You literally step back in time into a wilderness of history.

Food & Beverage:

Various community groups and individuals offer a huge selection of specialty foods. You will find food here that you would not find at home, such as the most popular kettle korn, fry bread, homemade root beer, stuffed baked potato with pork, cheese, onion and sour cream toppings, Pork Chop on a stick, Indian Tacos, beef, and funnel cakes. There is also wild rice soup, and smoked turkey legs, and the favorite pork chop on a stick.

Childrens' Atmosphere:

All types of activities and excitement are there for the children to enjoy. There are theatre, games, drills, and ceremonies, voyageur camps, and tipi tours. There is more than enough for the entire family to participate in each day.

Where is the Rendezvous Located?

It is located in a city park in Albert Lea, Minnesota. All visitors park at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds and are taken by shuttle one mile to festival grounds. Take Exit 157 off of Interstate 90 (just west of Interstate 35) and go into Albert Lea and travel approximately 1 ½ miles and the Freeborn County Fairgrounds will be on your right at 1105 Bridge Avenue.

Who runs the Rendezvous?

The Big Island Rendezvous is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors, has year-round volunteer staff, and an office in Albert Lea. The festival is helped by hundreds of volunteers & community organizations to make the event a reality. Thousands of dollars are raised each year with this event that helps with scholarships and other services in the area.

http://www.bigislandfestivalandbbq.org/Rendezvous/aboutus.htm