FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Around 6,100 residents from Fort Bragg and the surrounding area entered the magical world of knights, fairy princesses, feasting and jousting at Smith Lake Recreation Area Saturday and Sunday.
The first Fort Bragg Renaissance Faire was quite a success, said Pearlita Price, Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation's special events coordinator. "It blew our expectations out of the water for a first time event," she said. "We were planning for around 2,000 people."
Fair-goers, some in period costumes, enjoyed a host of entertainment from minstrels Maugorn the Stray and the duo Thunder and Spice singing songs of old to fierce battles performed by Knights of the Canton of Attilium.
The canton is based in Fayetteville and is part of the Barony of Windmasters' Hill, a branch of the Society of Creative Anachronism. The group also creates the "atmosphere of a day at a royal tournament" with displays of weaving, cooking, singing and other crafts.
Spc. James Griffin and his Family said they enjoyed the sights and activities. "It's nice that it's close enough. It's pretty awesome."
King Blackwolf and Queen Dagrny presided over the festival. Young knights and princesses rode war horses and unicorns, threw axes and played battle bows, a medieval version of laser tag/capture the flag with padded arrows and barriers to hide behind. Turkey legs, German fare and more adult beverages were also available as well as ice cream and lemonade.
"This is really fun for the kids," said Spc. Michelle Ather, 82nd Airborne Division who brought her children Kaitlyn, 5, Alex Boggs, 4, and Cameron Roscher, 4, to ride horses near the jousting area.
The Hanseatic League added a historical touch to the fairgrounds with their depiction of a spice merchant caravan from the late Medieval and Renaissance periods. We're interactive scenery," said spice merchant Becky Sasala.
"We show you what it would be like to go to a town faire and see a merchant caravan, which only come through only once or twice a year. We've just returned from Istanbul. We've got cinnamon from the far east, nutmeg, cloves, things that are more expensive than your child," she said. Becky, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sasala, 3rd Battalion 3rd Special Forces Group, started the Kontor Voss last year.
The highlight of the weekend was watching Sir Devon Farrel of York challenge Dame Fiona, the 'puppy killing, orphan making, evil knight' of Orkney to a jousting tournament put on by Paragon Jousting. The crowd shouted out their favorite knight's name as the two charged each other with lances on horseback.
As with all things, the faire came to a close at 5 p.m., Sunday. A few merchants sold clothing, toy swords and other items for people to take home along with good memories.
As for next year, Price hopes to have the event back at Fort Bragg. Until then, merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.
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