Looking for something a little different this weekend? Why not step back in time to the medieval period?
This weekend the inaugural Kimberley Medieval Festival kicks off with all kinds of Viking activities from knitting to battle re-enactments.
The Festival is brought to you by the Kimberley City Bakery and the Calgary-based Sons of Fenrir.
The Sons of Fenrir are re-enactors that portray the Scandinavian peoples and culture from circa 800-950. Heralding from Calgary, Alberta, their aim is to, as accurately as possible, bring to life what it was like to fight and live in a roving Norse Warband.
The festival runs on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
It will take place in the Platzl and at Coronation Park. And best of all, it’s free.
Festival organizer Michelle Forbes says that she thought the community could use an event that young families could enjoy. Not worrying about how much you have to pay for each child is a big plus.
“It’s not real structured, it’s fun, it’s free,” she said.
Highly structured or not, there is a schedule and it begins with an opening parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. The parade is an informal one, if you’d like to dress up in Viking wear and join in, please do. The parade will gather at the parking lot beside Centre 64 and march to the Platzl gazebo for the official opening. At 11 a.m. there will be a Viking skit at the gazebo, followed by a battle re-enactment at 11:30 at Coronation Park.
“After the battle re-enactment, kids can battle the Vikings themselves,” Forbes said.
At 1 p.m. there will be a Live Action Viking Saga at the gazebo, then at 1:30 head to the Library for a demonstration of a Viking archeology dig.
At 2:30, there will be an archery demonstration at Coronation Park, followed by a Viking battle re-enactment at 3 p.m. Then it’s back to the Platzl for another live action Viking saga.
On Sunday, the Village opens to the public at 10 a.m. There will be a battle re-enactment at 11 a.m. in the Platzl, which will move up to Coronation Park, with another opportunity for kids to battle the Vikings.
There’s a Viking saga at the gazebo at noon, another archery demo at 2 p.m., a battle re-enactment at 3 p.m. (Coronation Park) and a saga at 4 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., it’s time to say goodbye to the Vikings with a march through the Platzl.
It all sounds like a very full weekend and Forbes says the Sons of Fenrir are excited about it.
“Sometimes they only have a small space available to work in. Here, between the park and the Platzl they can show off all their props and skills.”