The Rendezvous at Grand Portage National Monument is presented for the purpose of recreating and interpreting the annual fur trade rendezvous held during the late 1700s and early 1800s at Grand Portage. This event is designed to improve the public’s appreciation and understanding of important events at Grand Portage and of the Great Lakes Fur Trade, which influenced the history and exploration of North America.
The annual Rendezvous is still celebrated at Grand Portage during the second weekend of August. The event is held in conjunction with the Rendezvous Days Powwow, sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The annual gathering is our biggest and most grand celebration of the year, a time when Grand Portage comes alive and reflects on its rich heritage. Re-enactors from across the country and Canada gather to camp and challenge each other to games and skills from our historic past.
The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Powwow is an annual Aboriginal cultural gathering focusing of dance, song, and family celebration with traditional foods, music, crafts, and more than 350 dancers. Grand Portage’s Rendezvous Days and Powwow is featured in the American Bus Association's list of Top 100 Destinations.