Activities
Arts and Sciences
A&S Display
Oyez! Oyez! Come one! Come all to the Harper’s Retreat Arts & Sciences Display!!! We will be accepting works of all types and at all levels!! Is your work still in progress? That’s ok! Please share what you have with us! Plus a special challenge from Baroness Amalie: Drop off at 9:30 and pick up at 3 pm!!!
A&S Challenges
The challenge will be: “Stretch Your Comfort Zone – Research Edition.”
Research can seem like a scary thing, especially to newer artisans, but it can actually be the most exciting part of a project! For this challenge, try pushing your comfort zone on the research end of your project. If this is your first time researching, start simple. Try including an extant item that inspired your piece – bonus points if you have the museum info! If you’re a more experienced artisan, try looking for a few different kinds of sources – journal articles, books from reputable publishers, notes from an archeological dig, etc. If you really want to go crazy, you can challenge yourself to translate a foreign language source!
If you’re researching a project you’ve already started, and you discover your piece would’ve been made differently in period, that’s totally fine! Talk about the differences between your piece and period practice, and what you might do differently next time. Wherever you are in your A&S journey, this challenge encourages you to take one step further in your research. The sky’s the limit!
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
Cheesy Bardic
Friday, 8-10pm – T-PAC
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 T-PAC 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)
Baronial Bard
Saturday, 8pm (or after Feast, Youth Bard goes first) T-PAC
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Let all minstrels, musicians, poets, and tale-weavers take heed! A Bardic Competition shall be held, where wit and wonder shall cross swords with melody and rhyme.
Two Rounds of Challenge Await Thee:
Round the First: A piece of period origin (or in period style), to honor the voices of ages past.
Round the Second: An SCA-appropriate performance of thy choosing, that the hall may ring with laughter, sorrow, valor, or joy.
This year’s theme is Fiber Arts and Fencing—whether thou singest of needles or rapiers, of spinning wheels or flashing blades, the choice is thine! At least one of your pieces should meet the theme.
Bonus Boon: Those who bring documentation to accompany their art shall be most highly esteemed—yet fret not, for it is not required to take the field.
So gather thy courage, tune thy lute, warm thy voice, and prepare to weave words as fine as silk, or strike with verse as swift as steel!
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: Kara the Mischievous
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 – T-PAC
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
Available whenever Youth Point is open:
- Scavenger Hunt
- Scribal Coloring Pages
- Kumihimo
- Youth Friendly Embroidery
Sing-a-long with Baron Keziah
Come join Baron Keziah on Saturday Night for a sing-a-long and S’mores by the fireplace at the Feast Hall.
Youth Bard and Bedtime Stories with Baron Gerhart
Come sing a song, tell a story, play an instrument or recite a poem to compete for Baronial Youth Bard! Or, if you are shy, listen and cheer on your friends and family. After the Youth Bard competition has ended, stay and hear a tale from Baron Gerhart before you get ready for bed.
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.
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
Click Here for Rules
| 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. |