In the year 1760

There are but few French & Indian War era sites this far south and the opportunity to participate in an event of that period is not to be missed when it is only four hours away.

Edited from Wikipedia:
"Fort Loudoun was a British colonial-era fort located in what is now Monroe County, Tennessee, United States. Built in 1756 and 1757 to help garner Cherokee support for the British at the outset of the Seven Years' War, the fort was one of first significant British outposts west of the Appalachian Mountains. It was named for the Earl of Loudoun, the commander of British forces in North America at the time.
Relations between the garrison of Fort Loudoun and the local Cherokee inhabitants were initially cordial, but soured in 1758 due to hostilities between Cherokee fighters and European settlers in Virginia and South Carolina. After the massacre of several Cherokee chiefs who were being held hostage at Fort Prince George, the Cherokee laid siege to Fort Loudoun in March 1760. The fort's garrison held out for several months, but diminishing supplies forced its surrender in August 1760. Hostile Cherokees attacked the fort's garrison as it marched back to South Carolina, killing more than two dozen and taking most of the survivors prisoner."

The original site is now underwater thanks to "the Tennessee Valley Authority's construction of Tellico Dam at the mouth of the Little Tennessee River in the 1960... At a contentious public meeting on the proposed dam in 1964, legendary local judge Sue K. Hicks, the Fort Loudoun Association's president, engaged in a verbal altercation with TVA Chairman Aubrey Wagner.^[12] TVA eventually agreed to fund the raising and reconstruction of the fort. The agency also funded extensive archaeological excavations at the site..."

The new location is near the original and the fort is accurately reconstructed since there was a plethora of documentation and artifacts. On a hill surrounded by the lake on three sides, the site couldn't be more beautiful. There is a small but choice museum displaying a fractions of the thousands of artifacts from the original fort.

The weather at this annual event, according to those experienced, is always hot and so it was: 97F and 93F respectively. Under three layers of 18th century garment, it was beyond toasty. 

 
I must admit that the over-riding incentive to attend these events is independent of the place and totally revolves around seeing my reenactor friends. Definitely true of this event. My friends Lisa and Carroll leaned on me to attend and others such as Paul and Allen, showed up as well. Fort Loudon's Trade Fair merchants are pretty spotty (sayeth ye snob) but the entertainment is first rate live music and comedy. I was encamped with Dennis & Barbara Duffy who are long time 18th century musicians and singers of high repute. The camp life was augmented by both their music and hospitality and I count them among the rare category of "new friends."

All those camped in that area were 18th century foodies and I was just a camp dog, enjoying all the varied repasts presented by my fellow campers, bless 'em. Carroll always cooks a feast one night to feed the multitudes and it was off the chart fine, supplemented by pots and bowls of food by others. Oh what a delight!

I need nothing in life but health and friends.