What is the Alafia River Rendezvous?
The Alafia River Rendezvous is an annual living-history event, hosted by The Florida Frontiersmen, that recreates rendezvous events organized by fur traders in pre-1840 America. In the original events, fur traders, Native American tribes, and merchants would meet together to trade goods, share news, and socialize. The Alafia River Rendezvous keeps that spirit alive each January in Homeland, Florida when hundreds of men, women, and children spend 10 days living that history. Everyone is dressed in primitive clothing, live in primitive camps, and enjoy time-period appropriate activities including competitive black powder shooting, archery, hawk & knife, live music, dancing, history seminars and demonstrations, Native American culture, and so much more!
The last few days of the event provide an opportunity to the general public to come and experience the event first hand. The last Thursday each year is open for schools and homeschooling families to visit and the last Friday and Saturday are available for the general public. Come learn about pre-1840 America with live demonstrations and living history stops. Come shop in trader’s row or browse blanket sales throughout the camp.
The Alafia River Rendezvous operates as the primary fundraiser for The Florida Frontiersmen. Funds raised go towards hosting the event itself, normal club expenses, community education opportunities as well as annually-awarded scholarships for students pursuing higher education.
The History of The Alafia
The Alafia Long Rifles muzzle loading club held their first Alafia River Rendezvous January 1972 at the old Tampa Police Range off Hayes Road in Pasco County celebrating their first anniversary of their founding. The Alafia Long Rifles had 42 members. Their rendezvous was a big success that generated recognition around Florida.
The Alafia River Rendezvous continued through 1984 as a very successful endeavor as a shooting event. During this time, the event was specifically a shooting event and not a rendezvous as it is now known. The Alafia members were not interested in primitive shooting or camping. The “rendezvous” aspect grew over the years because of the shooting.
The last Alafia River Rendezvous during this phase of its life was held in 1984 when property owner Jack Lyons notified the Alafia club to vacate the property because the property was going to be improved. It was the intention of Lyons to develop a golf course on the property. The Alafia range was dismantled in February leaving the club with no place to shoot.
Charley Knight, a major property owner in Hillsborough County, hearing of the loss of the Alafia River Long Rifle shooting site, offered the Alafia club the use his property off Keysville Road in Keysville, FL. Lee Betz, President of the Alafia Long Rifles, declined the offer based on his concerns about the survival the club. Through Clint Oak, the Florida Frontiersmen contacted Charley in hopes that he would offer the use of the property to them. Charley Knight offered his property for a 1985 Alafia, and the Frontiersmen accepted. Charley suggested that the rendezvous name remain the same, and that it be scheduled on the same dates used by the Alafia River Long Rifles.
At that time, the Florida Frontiersmen had eighteen members, $27.55 in the treasury, and were paper punchers with no rendezvous experience. Only a few of the eighteen members had been to a rendezvous. In addition to these handicaps, they also had no place to shoot. The work weekends preparing the site was an important factor in keeping the club together.
Florida Frontiersmen John Brabham had experience with Indian Powwows and Lee Betz had rendezvous experience. John was appointed Booshway and Lee was appointed co-Booshway of the 1985 Alafia River Rendezvous and Indian Powwow. Since the Frontiersmen didn’t have the money to finance the Alafia, Lee Betz provided the necessary funds.
A few Alafia River Long Rifles members joined the Frontiersmen and were of great assistance in the execution of the rendezvous. Their help was really appreciated at a time of difficulties because of the range losses.
That first Alafia by the Florida Frontiersmen attracted 172 total camps. The Indian Powwow was great fun, but as a fundraiser it was financially a disaster. After repaying Lee Betz, the rendezvous generated enough money to leave a profit of $4.54.