Prince George is set to host its first official Renaissance Faire this weekend.
The Prince George Agricultural and Historical Association (PGAHA) will present the event Saturday, July 26 from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Exhibition Park AG Arena.
Admission is free for children under 16 and $2 for everyone else.
The fair will feature more than 60 vendors, eight food trucks, a petting zoo (weather permitting), a BCNE alehouse open from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a duelling tournament.
A costume contest will be held Sunday at 3 p.m., with a kids' costume parade at 2 p.m.
One of the major highlights is the duelling tournament, which organizers are especially excited to bring to Prince George. The event is being held in partnership with a group from Williams Lake.
“The gentleman who is organizing the duels, as he calls them, is based in Williams Lake,” said PGAHA president Amy Heise. “He has a crew that comes from all over — Alberta and other cities. They host their own tournaments and attend Renaissance fairs to offer this. He explained to me that they use medieval rules updated for modern-day practices.”
Participants will compete throughout the weekend using longswords, sword and shield, polearms, and sword and buckler, among other weapons.
The fair will also feature live action role-playing (LARP), which Heise described for those unfamiliar.
“These people have committed to their characters,” she said. “They have names, they meet, they practise as if they were part of a small village. Both groups that have committed so far will also have booths and will run demonstrations throughout the weekend.”
Heise said the response to the fair has far exceeded expectations.
“We knew it was going to be a big thing, but we didn't realize quite how big it’s gotten,” she said. “We have vendors coming from Alberta, the West Coast and Vancouver. We even have attendees coming from Ontario. It’s turned into quite a big thing. The response has been overwhelming, to say the least.”
She added the PGAHA is looking forward to seeing both locals and visitors showcase their creativity and imagination at the fair — and confirmed that planning for next year’s Renaissance Faire is already underway.
