Friendship IN Comes Alive with Historic ‘Shoot’ and One-of-a-Kind Flea Market

The exciting events are held twice a year.

(Friendship, Ind.) - Every June and September, the quiet river hills of Friendship, Indiana transform into one of the most unique gatherings in the Midwest. Thousands of visitors make their way to Ripley County for two events that have become deeply woven into the town’s identity - the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s historic demonstrations and competitions and the sprawling Friendship Flea Market. Together, the events create a mix of living history, outdoor adventure, shopping, food, and community spirit that keeps families returning year after year.

The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, better known as the NMLRA, has called Friendship home since 1933. Located on a beautiful 550-acre property tucked between Caesar Creek and Laughery Creek, the organization was founded with a mission “to promote, support, nurture, and preserve our Nation’s rich historical heritage in the sport of muzzleloading.” That mission is still very much alive today.

The 2026 Spring National Shoot runs June 13–21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., drawing participants and spectators from around the country and even overseas. For many visitors, the experience feels like stepping back in time. During the NMLRA’s national shoots, visitors can watch competitions featuring long rifles, pistols, shotguns, skeet shooting, bow and arrow events, and more. Shooters of all ages participate, from seasoned marksmen to young competitors learning skills that date back centuries.

Some participants stay in the Primitive Area, where they dress in period clothing and live in canvas tents or traditional shelters much like early American frontiersmen. The crack of black powder rifles echoes through the valley while smoke drifts across the ranges, giving spectators a glimpse into how firearms were loaded, handled, and fired long before modern weapons existed.

Unlike modern rifles equipped with scopes and advanced technology, muzzleloading shooters rely heavily on skill and experience. Wind flags line the ranges to help competitors judge conditions, similar to how early marksmen once watched leaves and branches to estimate the wind before taking a shot. Watching these historic firearms in action offers more than entertainment - it provides a vivid reminder of the tools once used by settlers, hunters, and soldiers throughout American history.

The NMLRA also keeps traditional craftsmanship alive through hands-on educational programs and workshops in gunsmithing, knife making, and other historic trades. The association’s year-round Education Center can host up to 200 participants and serves as a hub for learning and preservation.

Families often make the shoots a multi-generational tradition. Grandparents, parents, and children can all be found sharing stories, sharpening marksmanship skills, and enjoying the camaraderie that has long defined the event.

The organization has attracted notable supporters over the years, including Powell Crosley Jr., the former owner of the Cincinnati Reds, founder of WLW radio, and creator of the Crosley automobile. Crosley became an early and enthusiastic member and is now honored in the NMLRA’s Black Powder Hall of Fame.

Beyond the competitions, the grounds are filled with vendors and artisans showcasing handcrafted goods and traditional skills. Visitors can browse custom knives, leather moccasins, silver and stone jewelry, carved wooden accessories, handmade soaps, antique firearms, vintage collectibles, and raw pelts. Many craftsmen are eager to explain the old-world methods they still use today, turning every booth into its own history lesson.

The NMLRA also works hard to preserve the natural beauty of the property. Because muzzleloaders use lead ball ammunition, specialized lead abatement teams regularly recover and recycle lead from the shooting berms. Catchment systems are also in place to help protect nearby waterways.

Just beyond the shooting ranges, another longtime Friendship tradition is in full swing. The Friendship Flea Market began humbly in August 1968 when Tom and Rosemary Kerr organized a small gathering with only 14 booths. By the following spring, the event had grown to 47 vendors, and later that same year nearly 150 spaces were filled.

Today, the flea market has expanded into one of Indiana’s oldest and largest outdoor markets, featuring nearly 500 vendor spaces spread throughout Friendship and around the Walter Cline Range. Held during the same weekends as the NMLRA shoots, the market has become a perfect companion event. Visitors can spend the morning watching black powder competitions and the afternoon hunting for antiques, collectibles, tools, furniture, jewelry, vintage clothing, and hard-to-find treasures.

The flea market stretches along State Road 62 just east of Friendship and carries an atmosphere that feels both lively and relaxed. Friendly conversations, the smell of barbecue and funnel cakes, live music, and the occasional horse-drawn trolley ride all add to the experience.

Food vendors serve everything from hearty breakfasts to smoked barbecue, corn dogs, homemade desserts, and fair favorites. Weekend entertainment often includes local musicians, bonfires, and community gatherings that encourage visitors to slow down and stay awhile.

What makes Friendship special is how naturally the two events fit together. One celebrates craftsmanship, tradition, and history through muzzleloading sports, while the other captures the spirit of small-town commerce and community connection.

Whether visitors come for the shooting matches, the flea market bargains, the handmade crafts, or simply the atmosphere, Friendship offers an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. As one old saying goes, “If history was taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” In Friendship, Indiana, history is not only remembered — it is lived