Activities
Arts and Sciences
A&S Display
The A&S Display is open for viewing from 10-4 in the Feast Hall.
Come display your A&S items. No documentation required. All levels welcome. Set-up from 9-10am. Pick up your items between 3:00pm & 4:30. Items will be unattended after 4:30 and will be moved as the hall is setup for Feast. Because Court starts at 3:30, feel free to come in a bit early to cleanup.
Feel free to bring your A&S project and hang out when there is no other activity in the space.
Day of A&S Challenges
The East Kingdom MoAS office will be holding a Day of A&S Challenges at Harper’s Retreat on Saturday, September 14th in the Feast Hall.
This event will be similar to the Laurels’ Challenges that have been held in the past, and is intended to foster artisan growth and connection while supporting them through the process of creating a project. Unlike the Laurels’ Challenges, however, anyone in the A&S community will be able to issue a challenge, not just laurels. Artisans answering the challenges will display their items and chat with the artisan issuing the challenge.
The full list of challenges for is now available and open for registration. We are proud to be able to offer 22 challenges in a variety of disciplines, including two youth challenges.
To read the full list of challenges and register for a challenge, visit https://moas.eastkingdom.org/a-day-of-as-challenges-at-harpers-retreat-list-of-challenges/
The registration deadline for challenges is August 31st at 11:59 pm.
Largesse Derby
Greetings from Their Royal Highness’s Largesse Coordinator. As you may have noticed we have some local royalty. What a better way to show support than to donate some Largesse. This is also an amazing way to get your work seen. Please bring your work and display it as part of our A&S display and then leave it for us to add to our Largesse Stocks. Please make sure to leave contact information (Name, Email/Mailing Address). There is no minimum number of items you can donate. If you want to just donate items that are not handmade, there will also be a box for you to do so. If you have any questions, please contact THL Solveig Bjarnadottir at 221812@members.eastkingdom.org.
Harper’s Ball
The Harper’s Retreat Friday the 13th Ball
at 8:00 in Memorial Hall
(the one down by the Crystal clear Lake)
featuring the musical stylings of the critically exclaimed
“Sir Robin’s Minstrels”
The ball will be MC’d by our very own Baronial Dance Master – Lord Ruadh Cruidh MacFrode, who hopes everyone who attends will have a happy ending. Ruadh has promised that there will be 50% less chance of carpet Zamboni during the ball. Please note that Ruadh is not allowed to be referred to as the “Baronial Ball Handler” or “Baronial Ball Holder”. And although he also makes beautiful hand bound books, he is also not allowed to be called “Baronial Bookie” or “Baronial Book Maker”. Since he also creates a weekly comic strip, it has also been determined that he is not allowed to be called the “Baronial Stripper”. Please be advised that these terms may upset Their Excellencies, and punishment meted out.
Bardic Activities
Busking
Greetings from your friendly neighborhood Event Steward of Harper’s Retreat! As the namesake is important to our Barony, we want to put forth a challenge to performers, those who have been around the block a few times through those who would like to dip their toes in. I, Solveig, -also- Provost of the EK College of Performers challenge one and all to Busk anywhere on site to create atmosphere. The only rules behind this is do not hold anyone up, not during feast and not during court itself. At gate, folks will be given 5 beads/tokens of some kind that they can present to a busker to show their support of their art. The individual who provides the most tokens at the end of the event will be named the champion of this challenge. If you would like to sign up for this challenge, there will be a sheet in TPAC for you to sign up. There will be cups with your name on it placed at the back of Cheesy Bardic, EK court, Baronial Bardic and Baronial Court for you to deposit your beads/tokens. The winner will be sent a prize. Anyone can give any busker a token of esteem for their performances in addition to the beads. These tokens will be kept by the busker. Looking forward to seeing/hearing you all! Yours in service and song, Solveig
Cheesy Bardic
Friday, 8-10pm – Barn
Cat got your tongue and you don’t know what to perform? Disney stuck in your head? Bohemian Rhapsody would feel like it fit many of your experiences? Well, have I got a bardic for you! Join us in the Fort for a night of Cheesy Bardic on Friday. What does this entail you may ask? Bring your own Cheese to share and your cheesy filks (Think Weird Al Yankovic). The only limitation on cheese is that you don’t bring American slices, plain old cheddar, Velveeta or squeezy cheese. Share your cheese, filks and yourselves! (Bring it sealed and we will manage slicing it up for safety)
Boast Challenge
Let it be known that Their Excellencies Deirdre and Keziah would put forth a bardic challenge this year – we want to hear you boast! Our favorite part of any elevation or court is the flowery prose spoken in earnest of someone’s good character. In-between the rounds for bardic champion we would have you boast to us of someone that inspires you that is in attendance of the event. Please, while you may boast more than one person, only one person may be boasted during the event (we don’t want 5 people all boasting about Deirdre!) Please keep your boast to under 2 minutes and sign up at the back of the hall for people to give forth tokens of admiration. Best boast will be decided by their excellencies and a grand prize will be awarded.
Baronial Bard
Saturday, 8pm (or after Feast, Youth Bard goes first)
Come forth, and entertain us!
It is my honor to announce the Baronial Bardic Champions tourney to be held at Harper’s Retreat !!! The theme for this will be “Home” and will be done in two rounds. The theme only has to be done in one of the rounds, not both, and is suggested. Round 1 – Do your best. That could be in song, poem, recitation, original work, etc. Round 2 – Do your best (song, poem, recitation etc) with suggested basic documentation. Please let me know if you have any questions. You cam reach me at my email: 214206@members.eastkingdom.org or via pm here on Facebook!
Yours in Service THL Ástríðr Sægeirsdottir Baronial Bard of Stonemarche (for a few more weeks)
As a Baronial Champion, you should be involved with Stonemarche (or if you are new intend to be). This does not mean that you need to live in the Barony, just that you are willing to represent the Barony to the best of your ability. As a Champion, you may be called upon to represent the Barony in any “Contest of Champions” at events you attend, including Pennsic. You will also be asked to stand with the Baron and Baroness at any Court they may hold or be a part of.
As Baronial Bard it isn’t just our job to entertain, our job also involves encouraging Bardic in the Barony, celebrating the accomplishments of our people, consoling them in their bad times, and keeping their history/stories alive.
For those wondering about Stonemarche Idol: all entrants are automatically entered in the Stonemarche Idol competition (people’s choice award), regardless of Championship score status.
To ensure that all our contestants are heard, please note, there is a 4 minute time limit on a single piece and 8 minutes for two pieces – this includes any remarks you would like to say concerning your piece. Please be sure to time your pieces in advance; you will be asked to provide your approximate timings on the competition forms, to be found at the event.
Baronial Bard: Astridr Saegersdottir
Warrior Bard & Youth Bard
The requirement to be Warrior Bard is that you engage in one of the Martial activities, Thrown weapons, Archery, and Siege weapons, Fencing and even Heavy list all count.
Clarification on Warrior Bard: if a non-martial/weapons-practitioner wishes to enter Warrior Bard they may do so, but their entry MUST be martial in theme to be considered. Martial artists of whatever form may perform any SCA appropriate piece. Bring what you think is your best piece that is 4 minutes or less.
The requirement to be Youth Bard is that you are under 18.
Please note, there is a 4 minute time limit on a single piece.
Bardic competitions are open to ALL ages though we will have the younger (below 18) participants go first as this can sometimes take a while and bedtimes can come earlier.
Midnight Swim Bardic Circle
Saturday, after Bardic Champions – Barn
After the bardic competition on Saturday night, a special “Midnight Swim” Bardic Circle will be available for those who wish to participate. This is fun bardic time, no actual swimming will be happening. This is an adult themed bardic and children should be in bed anyway 🙂
Youth Activities
Sing-a-long with Baron Keziah
Friday, 7-8pm
The sing-a-long is back this year with Smore’s at the fire and Baron Keziah leading the group. Children under the age of 12 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Scribal Coloring Pages
Available whenever Youth Point is open
Youth Fighting
Youth fighting will be held from 1-3 on Saturday. Some loaner gear will be available.
Go to the Marital Activities page for more information.
Youth Classes
Youth Classes – will be held at Youth Point, unless another area is indicated. The current class list is at the bottom of the page of the Classes & Meetings Page
| Per East Kingdom Law, children under the age of 10 must be within voice range or in sight of a responsible adult or teenager at all times. This responsible adult may not be a youth officer acting in their official capacity. |
Sheep Capture
Stonemarche Shepherds Guild needs you!
Oh, No. With all the work we did last year to help repopulate the Stonemarche sheep, they have escaped their pen and are getting to know Takodah again! We need the children of the Kingdom to help capture them and bring them back to their pasture.
Saturday 10am-2pm at Youth Point