Port Gamble gets dose of heavy metal

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, May 31, 2006

PORT GAMBLE — You won’t need to know your favorite color or dodge man-eating rabbits at the annual Society for Creative Anachronism Medieval Faire. And there definitely won’t be a particularly overenthusiastic Black Knight with one arm (a mere flesh wound!) in attendance, either.

But all other parts of the faire might resemble a mixture of Monty Python’s “Holy Grail” and Errol Flynn as Robin Hood with a realistic twist as public is most humbly invited by the Barony of Dragon’s Laire, within the Kingdom of An Tir to this most prestigious and educational affair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 3-4.

The Port Gamble event differs from other renaissance faires, SCA members agree, in that it serves to teach the public about medieval times.

SCA is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs and events about the medieval era and its festival gives the public a glimpse at what the group is all about.

“You won’t see a unicorn at this event,” said SCA member Donna Broszeit, noting that the SCA strives to be historically accurate and serves to educate its members and others about what the medieval times were like.

Keeping with this idea, each member has an SCA name, Broszeit’s is Anne Ferch Gryffyth.

“You have to have a documented name,” Anne said. “SCA is devoted to realism, this is one way we practice it.”

This year, the event will include plenty of sword play, archery, music, food and activities for children.

It will also feature royalty, said Carol Schnetter, a.k.a Brighid Ross. She and her husband, Bryan Schnetter, a.k.a Cedric Wlfraven, will preside over the festivities as baron and baroness.

“This is our first year presiding over the faire,” Brighid said. “I’m really excited.”

Along with traditional events, the group is planning on equestrian demonstrations as well, Anne said.

“We don’t have enough room for jousting,” she said. “So we’re going to show how the knights trained for jousting tournaments.”

“I love seeing the horses all decorated,” Brighid added. “I love the pageantry, not just the history, of this whole event.”

This year’s fair will have a distinct village feel with vendors up on the hill.

“Meeting members of the public who have never seen us, or anything like us, before is fun,” said Laura White, also known as Angharad Albanes. “The kids go wild and have so much fun. We speak as they would have in medieval times, but we try not to lay it on too thick. We want to be understood and polite.”