This year’s was the fourth annual. We went to either the inaugural or the second annual, I don’t recall which. It has grown significantly.
There were many vendors. My gratuitous purchase was a halberd head. I’ve just become the Sergeant At Arms for my Toastmaster’s club. “Arms” seems a requirement for the job, but a rifle seemed a bit much for my first day on the job. I have three weeks to buy a pole/staff for it.
The melee and jousting were great shows. The plots even had some twists in them to keep the story interesting. The sword fights were very well choreographed. The swords were real (although I doubt sharp) and gambesons (I don’t think I’ve ever written that word before) were worn – although helmets were not. Just to write this word for the first time: The melee armor had pauldrons.
The jousting horses were of a type I had not seen before. They had draft-horse feet/hooves with regular-horse legs and bodies. They were quite tall, but I didn’t try to estimate how tall and I don’t have a good comparison point.
Saturday was hot with a high of 95. We went on Sunday when the temperature was a more reasonable low 70s – cool enough to wear fur! I found the scabbard for my sword, so I wore that, too. Much to my surprise, no one asked that I secure it. Also to my surprise, the photographer asked me to draw it for the picture above. I noticed a few nicks in the blade, so I sharpened it, for the first time, when we got home. It’s not knife-sharp, but I wouldn’t want to be hit by it.
Only one person petted me. That vest seems to compel someone to do so every time I wear it. No one was brave – or curious – enough to do a kilt-check.
Marked Up 