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Alafia River Rendezvous Celebrates A Simpler Time

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 23, 2008

VALRICO - On any other day, the Bergmans of Valrico are a normal, 21st-century family, thumbs texting, tiny wires connecting ears to musical devices, electronic gadgets beeping.

But on Jan. 16, Carl and Nancy Bergman and their children - Christopher, 16, Claire, 14, Stephen, 12, Amy, 8, Laura, 5, and Jeffrey, 2 - traded all things modern for their first weeklong immersion into pre-1840s life at the Alafia River Rendezvous.

The 37th Alafia River Rendezvous, sponsored by the Florida Frontiersmen, is the largest pre-1840 interpretive encampment in the Southeast. More than 1,200 participants live at the Homeland site for a week, taking on the personas of characters from various cultural traditions and regions of early America.

Only period clothing, food and accoutrements are permitted in the primitive campground. More than 100 stores and craftsmen offer items for sale.

The public is invited to attend the "Publick Days" of the rendezvous from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Homeland site south of Bartow. Visitors may wear and bring contemporary gear.

Nancy Bergman's father, Arthur Frank, participated in rendezvous after she was grown, "so re-enacting was not something that I did as a child," she said. "I had never visited a rendezvous until I took my home-schooled children to the Alafia River Rendezvous several years ago as a field trip.

"We are taking with us some of my father's rendezvous items, which we inherited when he passed away," Nancy Bergman said. "Carl and the older children will be able to shoot Dad's black powder pistols and rifles there. Dad also had two throwing tomahawks, so we can try our hand at tomahawk throwing. There is an area with wooden targets for 'hawk and knife' throwing.

"Some of our children have begged for years to participate for a week and not just come as a visitor for a day. They are very excited about going and are looking forward to seeing some of their friends there."

Each year, the Brandon Home School Fellowship, a support group for families that home school their children, takes a trip to the rendezvous. "It is one of the most popular and highly attended of the field trips," Bergman said. "And each year, more and more home-school families ... return as participants."

Among those from the group who don the buckskin leggings and cotton or wool dresses and capes are Bryan and Loretta Mion of Valrico and their children, Nicole, Robert, Matthew, Elizabeth and Sasha; and Patrick and Sharon Richards of Lithia and their children, Nate, Gabe, Landon and Leah.

"Hands down, this is our children's favorite event of the year," Sharon Richards said. "We have been participating in the Alafia River Rendezvous since 2001. ... Besides learning about living history prior to 1840, they have picked up skills such as fire starting with flint and steel, wood burning with a magnifying glass, beadwork, black powder shooting, finger-weaving and loom weaving. ... The younger children just enjoy being and running around outdoors 24 hours a day for a week."

"This will be our second year actually camping at rendezvous," said Valrico resident Lynn La Roe, wife of Michael and mother of Cory and Ariah.

"We learned ... everything that is involved with packing a 'possible bag' a bag for every possible thing and living in the wilderness with only what you can carry on your back," La Roe said.

"I enjoyed just getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life," she said. "It was great to spend leisurely afternoons chatting with friends under the shade of a tree or wandering the grounds to look at the abundance of wares for sale or trade. Also, nothing beats a good, old-fashioned campfire in the evening."

Cory La Roe and Stephen Bergman said they appreciate the extra independence they are granted by their folks at the rendezvous. They enjoy throwing at the hawk and knife range and shooting their families' guns.

Ariah La Roe loves the kids' round robin.

"This is where all the children gather in the evening around a trade blanket with Mr. Monty, who owns the toy store," Lynn La Roe said. "They all bring items that they would like to trade. ... Whenever a child puts an item in the center of the blanket, they must tell a story about the item. It can be a true story or ... fictional, but the more outrageous the story, the more fun it is and the more likely someone will want to make a trade."

There are contests and games throughout the week, as well as a Native American powwow and a ladies' tea. There is even a one-room school tent that "is open every weekday ... and is staffed by certified teachers," Nancy Bergman said. It has "an old-fashioned school bell, which summons the children to their classes each morning."

Students and teachers "wear period-correct clothing during their school day," Bergman continued. "If the students attend ... every day, they get a certificate of attendance to take back to their schools, along with their completed work."

Tickets to the Publick Days are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors ages 60 and older and children and teens ages 4 to 15. Children 3 and younger enter free. A map to the Homeland site, south of Bartow at the end of Azalea Street, is available at www.floridafrontiersmen.org/ Alafia.html.

Art With A Taste Of Chocolate

BRANDON - St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 3315 Bryan Road, will host a free presentation, Art with a Taste of Chocolate, that relates art to faith with images, icons, visions and illusions at 7 tonight in the church's Family Life Center. A free dinner for church members will be served at 6. A variety of chocolate desserts and confections will be served.

The presenter, Darcy Weir, has been explaining the connection between art and faith for years. She has lived in France and the United Kingdom and holds degrees in classical studies and Greek and Latin literature.

For information, call (813) 689-6849 or visit www .standrewsbrandon.org.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay .rr.com or call (813) 657-4531.

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