UNION — Donna Esparza visited her first pioneer rendezvous with her youngest son's Cub Scout pack seven years ago, and she's been hooked ever since.

Phyllis Mullikin of Covington cracks a bullwhip during a demonstration Friday at Big Bone Landing Pioneer Days. Ms. Mullikin also ran the Two Rivers Trading Post at the old-time event. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Today, the Florence woman and her son Cody, now 15, take part in nine camps a year, re-creating early 19th century pioneer life.

        “I'm a single parent, but I'm never alone,” Ms. Esparza said Friday. In her camp, she demonstrated a variety of 19th-century, battery-free toys that require only skill and imagination.

        Ms. Esparza is part of the Ole Caintuckee Primitives group camping at the first Big Bone Landing Marina Pioneer Days this weekend. More than 30 camps are expected to be set up by today on the marina property.

IF YOU GO

• What: Big Bone Landing Marina Pioneer Days.     • When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Features re-enactments of pre-1840 pioneer life; food, crafters and cloggers. Tommy Taylor & the Rabbit Hash String Band perform from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.     • Where: Big Bone Landing Marina, 14036 Boat Dock Road, Union, Ky.     • Admission: $2 a person; children under 12 free.     • Directions: Take Interstate 71/75 south to Exit 180. Go west on U.S. 42 about 10 miles. Turn right onto Ky. 338. Pass Big Bone Lick State Park and turn at the first left past the park onto Ky. 1925. The road dead-ends in 3 miles at Big Bone Landing.     • Information: (859) 384-1713.

        “I've never come to a rendezvous where people don't help us set up, or share their food,” said Ms. Esparza, who creates replicas of 19th century dresses for herself and kilts for her son. “It kind of restores your faith in mankind because the people are real good, and everyone takes care of each other.”

        At the Ole Caintuckee Primitives encampment, visitors can chat with re-enactors who go by camp names such as Rat, Snake and White Moon, and demonstrations are featured on everything from cracking whips to making lye soap.

        “We're always looking for fun things to do,” said Sue Falkiewicz of Edgewood, who visited the camp Friday with her children Nicole, 6, Kristen, 4, and Eric, 2. “This is something a little different.”

        Nearby, Tamora Rademacher, who met and later married her husband, Jim, at a pioneer encampment, tended her campfire.

        “I hope people learn where they came from, what life was like in the pioneer days, and what luxuries we have now,” said Ms. Rademacher, who attends encampments with her husband and their 5-year-old son, Jeremiah. “The next time you go to wash your hands and the temperature's not quite right, you should think about how people had to live prior to stoves and electricity and refrigerators.”
       

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