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Come hither and make merry at medieval festival
Warren church sponsors second annual festival to provide some ...
By LINDA M. LINONIS
WARREN
Hear ye, hear ye! The king and queen of Warrenshire bid Valley subjects to partake in a gala Mid-Summer Knights Medieval Festival on the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church.
James “Jim” Johnson, a church member for some 30 years, serves as chancellor (coordinator) of the kingdom. “We wanted to have some kind of event, but something different,” he said. “We did some research, and this theme and date work out.”
Johnson said last year’s inaugural event attracted about 1,000 Valley residents. “We expect double that this year,” he said, adding that people may come as they are or get into the spirit of the day by dressing in medieval garb.
Johnson said there will be activities to engage all ages and interests.
Tonight at the church, there will be a medieval feast and madrigal dinner. With some tickets still available, Johnson is hoping people will say to themselves, “Let us go thither.”
Tapestries of Ohio, a madrigal group, will perform in period costumes and sing music of the era for the dinner theater. That includes “Sing We At Pleasure,” “Good Health, All Gathered Here” and
“My Friends, We Now Must Leave Thee.”
The parish hall is bedecked with flags recognizing the Episcopal diocese and the Warrenshire. The royal court, boasting some 20 members, will sit in a place of honor at the front of the hall to oversee their subjects.
The “most splendid” menu “from the age of kings” includes a medley of summer English greens from the king’s table, Cornish game hens, steamed broccoli spears from the castle kitchen and bread from the king’s own bakery.
On Saturday, members of the Shire of Rivenvale, the official Society for Creative Anachronism in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, will lend an authentic air to the festival. “They will teach people what the Middle Ages was like,” Johnson said. Members, dressed in attire specific to the time, will offer fiber-arts and weapons demonstrations along with archery.
The festival, mostly about making merry, also has an educational aspect, Johnson said, as visitors will see authentic costumes, dances and weapons. There also will be a combat event with participants dressed in armor, and entertainers will explain songs and dances.
Perchance, festivalgoers will be engaged by subjects from the Shire of Rivenvale. “The actors role-play, and it’s over the top,” Johnson said.
There also will be food vendors outdoors and a canteen by the church. Among its fare will be boar’s tails (hot dogs), dragon tails (Italian sausage) and frozen troll breath (shaved-ice cones).
As children participate in and attend various activities, they’ll receive “coins of the realm.” At the royal tent, the coins are their tickets to knighthood. Also at the activities, children will receive free raffle tickets for a drawing for a Mike the Knight game.
Artisan tents will include vendors in blacksmithing, leather craft and jewelry.
Johnson said preparations for the festival are ongoing, as different teams accomplish various tasks in the months leading up to the event.
Assisting Johnson are Susan Montecalvo, actors and costume-maker; Nancy Thomas, vendors and advertising; and Richard Brown, Society for Creative Anachronism and demonstrations.
Herb Everman plays the king consort. He’s been involved with Trumbull New Theatre, so the role was a natural fit. He said he does the bidding of the queen played by Montecalvo. Everman described the festival as engaging and educational for children and adults.