Medieval Days coming to Nakusp
By Contributor
by Catriona Caimbeul
So is fun, feasting, entertainment and workshops for the whole family!
The Nakusp Medieval Society has partnered with the Society for Creative Anachronism to bring the SCA’s annual war here for the August long weekend. The SCA’s Kingdom of Avacal (eastern BC and Alberta) and the Principality of Tir Righ (western BC, northern Washington) will recreate a medieval encampment, complete with a village square market where guests can shop for historically accurate wares and period food and drink.
This is a big event; as many as 500 SCA members are expected to take part, coming from the Lower Mainland, Washington State, and Alberta.
SCA artisans will portray life with hands-on demonstrations of their crafts, creating beautiful and useful items from the Middle Ages.
Although the list of craftspeople is still being compiled, visitors can look forward to displays and demonstrations of fibre arts, needlework, calligraphy, cooking and baking, lampwork, leatherwork and more. Wandering musicians and bards will perform, and a fashion show is planned.
The event will be held at an 80-acre site on the Hot Springs Rd, providing plenty of space and very little intrusion from the 21st century. It takes place August 1 and 2; tickets will be on sale mid-March at the website www.medievaldays.ca. Medieval garb is not compulsory, but visitors are encouraged to have fun and dress up.
The NMS will soon be taking applications from local artisans and food vendors, who must adhere to the time period, and be in costume. To add to the authenticity, there will be no electrical power on the site.
Of course, the years between 600 and 1600 featured armoured knights and deadly accurate bowmen, and SCA members will battle it out for honours. Visitors can expect to see swordsmen with rapiers, and others with heavy swords.
A full archery range and tournament, and an area for thrown weapons will be built for members, with the public welcome to watch.
And if watching a battle makes you itch to get involved —you can! Visitors will be invited to don a helm and swing a sword at a practice pole, or to shoot three arrows at a separate demonstration range, or to try their hand at thrown weapons like knives, spears and axes.
The Nakusp Medieval Society was formed in 2014 to host this new event. The society, a non-profit organization, intends “to create an annual event in Nakusp celebrating medieval culture.
”Three of the six volunteer directors were also involved in running the Nakusp Music Festival, bringing both organizational and hands-on experience to Nakusp Medieval Days.”
The NMS is raising money to hold the event. It has already secured $7,000 in seed funding; more sponsors and donors are always welcome. Memberships ($5) will go on sale at the same time as ticket sales start.
For more information, visit the website: www.medievaldays.ca or email info@medievaldays.ca. ‘Like’us on Facebook: Nakusp Medieval Days.
