Jousting knights, a Viking village, armoured battles, a delicious feast…No, this isn’t a promotion for Game of Thrones, Vikings or The Last Kingdom. It’s an invitation to the Faire, and thou art invited!
Over the weekend of August 23-25, the Strathmore Medieval Faire & Artisan Market will be held at the Strathmore Stampede Grounds. The event debuted last summer, and organizer Gail Stamp is excited to be back for a second successive year.
“We attracted more than 4,000 for last year’s show, and we only expect those numbers to increase,” says Stamp, owner of LegendWorks Events Inc. “You never know what to expect when you launch in a new town, and we were very, very surprised with the turnout.”
A lot of the enthusiasm for events such as the Medieval Faire & Artisan Market has at least something to do with its association for a simpler time, Stamp speculates. She has also noticed a general desire to turn off the TV and put down the smartphone for a day or two, especially when the entertainment on offer is interactive, family-friendly and fun.
“It’s fun for people to engage,” she says. “You’re not going to the movies. You’re not going shopping. This is something that just engulfs people.”
Of course, familiarity with shows like Game of Thrones, Vikings and The Last Kingdom serve to help build excitement among an audience already fluent in a number of medieval activities. Jousting, for example, is one of the show’s biggest draws and features real people, real horses and real lances. The Viking Village, meanwhile, demonstrates period cooking and woodworking, and armoured combat reenactments put steel blade against steel blade.
“It’s very authentic fighting,” Stamp explains. “These are real people with real weapons and real armour, and they don’t kid around! It’s quite the spectacle.”
Kids who want to get in on the act are able to engage in pool noodle jousting and plastic axe throwing. Younger attendees can also enjoy the music of wandering minstrels, stories told by a bard and tricks performed by a magician. Stamp adds that the costume contest has become quite popular, with period outfits getting more and more elaborate each time it’s held.
Finally, a Faire fixture – and its most sociable component – is the Artisan Market that brings more than 50 craftspeople together from throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. Stamp points out that one of her goals is to elevate small businesses, and the Artisan Market allows her to do it within the medieval theme.
“We like to help communities, whether through helping small businesses or just allowing people to come out and have a good time,” she says. “It’s important that we get our small businesses working together as a community.”
General admission to the Strathmore Medieval Faire & Artisan Market is only $14, and tickets for children aged 7-12 and seniors 65+ just $11. Seven-and-unders are free. Further information is available on the event’s website.