For the second year in a row, Samaria’s Heritage Square played host to a vibrant Renaissance Faire event, accompanied by a Baby Animal Festival.  Spring is a time celebrate the birth of new, as fully embodied by the menagerie of puppies, piglets, chicks, goats, and other animals on hand.  It also presents a time to look back at the past, in this case the middle ages and renaissance era.  Last year’s event was a project suggested to Luke Waldron by students of Donna Whipple’s Shakespeare class, and was a bigger event than anyone intended.  This year was even more ambitious, with world-class jousting demonstrations, sword experts, dance professionals, and a variety of historical events, attractions, and performers.  Hundreds of people streamed through the gates for food, fun, and a taste of the past.

This year’s headliners were the Knights of Mayhem, billed as World Class Jousting Champions.  The members of the Knights provided both a history lesson to the audience about the various elements involved in jousting, the history of armor and weaponry, and the modern sport as it is currently practiced.  12 time reigning World Champion Captain Charlie “Sir Charles” Andrews, fronted the team, which put on a spectacular show for the excited onlookers.  Each round began with skill exhibitions, and then proceeded to a scored jousting event involving tipped lances.  

Also on hand was a fire breathing show by Pyro Paris and Matthew Reeves, dancing exhibitions by the Banjara Dancers, Axe throwing competitions hosted by Brigham’s Half-Axed and the Axeman Outpost, Sword Demonstrations, a Lazer Tag arena, Falconer-Rest Falcon Demos, local music and art, Andrew Wonder’s magic shows, quilting and spinning demonstrations, a kids castle, pony rides, battle arena, archery booth, and dozens of other vendors and on site entertainers.  Local and regional vendors were also on hand to keep the large crowds fed.  

This year’s event also included a Royal Banquet with the Faire royalty and the Knights of Mayhem, and Princess Parties, with local young ladies dressed in a range of princess constumes.

Sponsors for the event included Oxford Peak Arts Council, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, ATC Communications, Thomas Market, Hess Lumber, Oneida Family Dental, Northwestern Mutual, Ken Tooke and Associates, Hess Pumice/Hess NAPA, Malad Valley Dental Clinic—Dr. Thorpe and Dr. Robbins, J Peak Propane, Bywater Heating, Liberty Foods, Ward Feed & Seed, Northern Title, K-C Mini Mart and RV Park, Sparks & Spice Studio, Careen Harnecker Artist, Graphic Designer, Travidon, CV Light & Sound, Cache Valley Media Group, Upper Country Electric, Dave Lindsay, Last Mile Wireless, Edith’s Collective, and Crazy Cow Farm Adventure. 

While weather threatened during the weekend, there was only one brief hailstorm toward the end of the event on Saturday.  Based on this year’s participation, locals should expect another great year next year.