(Editor's Note: the article, following, first appeared in the August 6th edition of the "Madison County Record", published in Huntsville, Arkansas. All rights to this article are reserved by the Madison County Record. It appears on these pages strictly for informational/educational purposes only. No infringement of copyright is intended or implied by this author).
Hear ye, hear ye: the American Crossbow Association invites one and all to revel in the glory of a bygone era at the Withrow Renaissance Festival and ACA Crossbow Tournament. On October 9, 10 and 11, the grounds around the upper pavilion at Withrow Springs State Park will be transformed into a grand display of medieval arts, crafts, and sporting events. Displays of workmanship, physical skill, musical talent, and pageantry will entrance young and old alike.
Again this year, the King and Queen along with their entourage will stage the Royal Grand March each day before noon. And each day will be filled with games, performances, and demonstrations that hark back to the period of stylized combat and chivalry--enough to amuse and entertain the whole family.
You can try your hand at ax or knife throwing and crossbow shooting, said Dan Flood of Huntsville, one of the festival's organizers. "And the kids will find lots and lots of games just for them," he promised.
Medieval and Renaissance-period crafts such as handblown glass, chainmail, pottery, handwoven baskets, leather work, jewelry, blacksmith's goods, and more will be there to educate (and even to buy)!
Stationary and wandering musicians and entertainers will keep the mood light. Twice a day, said Flood, you can catch a falcon demonstration. A handler of one of these magnificent birds of prey will show how the birds will capture and retrieve for him. Falconry, or hunting with falcons, is an ancient Asian sport, which Crusaders brought back to Europe in the Middle Ages.
Jim Frey of Pettigrew will again be weaving his tales among the revelers. The Society for Creative Anachronisms, a Middle Ages re-creation group, will stage the combat demonstrations along with their displays of crafts and period skills. Twice each day, performers will engage in the human chess game---chess played in a way you've never seen it: chess played as a military strategist's game, with physical combat and prisoners all a part of the game's enactment.
On Saturday, don't miss the competition among men in the Ozark Highland Games. "Ozark Highland Games" is the name of a regional organization for these unique competitions that include the throwing of many heavy things. In the caber toss, for instance, participants throw something that looks a lot like a telephone pole as far as they can (the cabers are from 15 to 19 feet long and weigh from 90 to 135 pounds). Some other categories include the hammer throw, stone put, weight for distance, and weight for height events. These competitors are not 90-pound weaklings. They will be dressed in kils, though.
Saturday and Sunday are the days when bow lovers from across the country will compete in the ACA Crossbow Tournament. The ACA holding the renaissance festival along with the generous sponsorship of Channel 5 KFSM-TV, Coca-Cola, and Magic 107.9 FM KEZA. Flood has plans to make the festival bigger each year. Next year, he said, the festival will be held on two weekends.
Plenty of food and drink will be available on the festival grounds. Choices will range from medieval-like food such as roast pig to not-so-medieval-like food such BBQ, pizza, and popcorn.
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