Fall Rendezvous at Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site

By Sault Tourism

Fall Rendezvous Festival, at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, is a 4-day event, hosted each September by the Friends of Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. The festival, this year occurring September 24th – 27th, is a chance to immerse yourself in the history of the war of 1812 and the daily life of the early 1800's, through a number of live reenactments including; canon and musket fire, Indigenous storytellers, workshops and more!

Keep reading to learn more about the Fall Rendezvous Festival, 2025.

Four Days of Festival

The Fall Rendezvous Festival starts on Wednesday, September 24th and will run for four days until Saturday, September 27th, 2025. The event is open to the public, as well as for groups including School Groups, from 10am to 4pm for each day.

Admission is by donation (pay what you can) and includes entrance to the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site heritage buildings and grounds, as well as interaction and knowledge sharing with 36 heritage performers including Francophone and Indigenous storytellers. See the Red Coats and the flash in the pan, smell the gunpowder as the muskets and cannons ignite, hear the drumming and our storytellers. Immerse yourself!

Canon and Musket Firing

A fun part of the Fall Rendezvous Festival is the historical reenactments from the period surrounding the war of 1812. Restored canons and muskets from the era are fired at regular intervals throughout the festival, with groups of onlookers and spectators kept at a safe range. 🙂

Expect the canon to fire every hour or more frequently when groups are on tours!

Heritage Performers & Activities

There are 36 heritage performers and exhibits present at the Festival. These include Coureur du Bois, Voyageurs, Métis, quill work, drumming & Indigenous song, sacred plants and teachings – all in live performance! Thinking Rock Community Arts will be on site on Friday.

Saturday September 27th is Highland Fest. This new addition to the festival traces back to the Scottish connection in the Fur Trade with Ermatinger and his partner: McTavish. Come experience Pipe Bands, Scottish Dancers, and witness the mid-day commemorative celebration.

Saturday will also see the addition of tasty local samplings from Hogan's Homestead, Beaver Tails food trailer, and special this year: the Texas BBQ of Canada.

The Site is accessible with parking, boardwalks, washrooms and audio tours.

Highland Fest

A new addition to this year's event is Highland Fest. A tribute to the Scottish fur traders in partnership with Ermatinger during the early 1800's – McTavish Clan.

Friday evening, September 26th, provides a small intimate ticketed event: "Sip & Savour" a Scotch tasting and paired foods evening. Hosted by the Whisky Barrel. Sip, Swirl, Sniff and Sip. 4 Wee Drams with 4 Scottish delights.

Then Saturday, September 27th will showcase Pipe & Drum Bands: 49th SSM Field Regiment Pipes and Drums, Gael Force Pipe Band, 155 Air & Army Pipes and Drums, and McLeod Highland Dancers. Each will perform individually, and will join a "masses bands" at noon for the commemorative celebrations. Bring the children for our kid-friendly version of the Highland Games.

Festival Schedule

The Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site

Fall Rendezvous Festival takes place on the grounds of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site; where two of the oldest stone buildings in Ontario are Sault Ste. Marie's only remains of the fur trade era, and home to the earliest European settlers.

Learn about the war of 1812 through interactive displays, enjoy an audio tour to help guide you through the site. There is also a gift shop filled with local artisan products and memorabilia from Sault Ste. Marie. Read more about visiting Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site here.

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