The seventh annual Rendezvous on the Plains of Coupeville is Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, at the Central Whidbey Sporstmen’s Club off Highway 20 across from Morris Road, approximately 2.5 miles south of Coupeville.

The annual event brings together mountain men and women, along with fur trappers, traders and buckskinners from around the Pacific Northwest and Canada for a weekend get-together to relive the time when groups of daring adventurers explored uncharted lands in western America and the Rocky Mountains during the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s.

The traders and trappers begin arriving Friday, Aug. 14, and the event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug 15, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16.

Some of the early birds were already getting their gear set up and put together at the encampment on Saturday, Aug. 8.

“We have people from all walks of life who participate in the Rendezvous,” said Dave Hollett, known as Rabbi around the encampment. “We never know how many people will show up at the primitive camp, but Saturday is the day to come because everybody will be here.”

Hollett, who is the Emergency Manager for Island County, was in the process of getting his camp set up. In particular he was putting up his colorful teepee, with help from his wife, Tammy, a Wal-Mart employee, known to the Rendezvous people as Rope Cutter.

Traders’ tents will be open for business selling all the items needed for outdoor living during this period in American history. In addition, there will be a black powder shooting competition with rifles and pistols, along with tomahawk and knife throwing events, primitive archery and children’s games.

Rabbi Hollett said last year 48 shooters were entered in the black powder shooting contests.

The event is free, so take the family out and enjoy a day of reliving American history with a whole passel of very interesting people.