Submitted by the San Juan County National Historic Park

Reenactors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will once again celebrate peace as they gather for the 21st annual Encampment schedule July 26-28 on the English Camp parade ground.

Encampment features recreations of mid-19th-century soldier camp life, demonstrations of black powder firing, children’s croquette, music, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, along with the pageantry of period clothing.

Saturday’s schedule will culminate in the Candlelight Ball, scheduled at 8 p.m. in the English Camp barracks. The public is invited to join in the dancing and refreshments that will include the traditional cake and punch.

As with every year, Encampment 2019 commemorates the peaceful joint occupation of San Juan Island by British and American forces from 1859 to 1872 and final settlement of the Northwest Boundary Dispute. Throughout the joint occupation, the garrisons exchanged visits to celebrate holidays that include Christmas, the Fourth of July and Queen Victoria’s birthday. Typically the men would participate in athletic contests, imbibe in spirits and other refreshments and usually host a dance to which the community was invited.