Our Events

The objectives of the shire’s events are to have fun in a medieval setting at low expense. Since we’re a family organisation and not out to make a profit we try to keep costs to a minimum to allow maximum participation.
  The form an event or meeting takes can vary enormously from full blown events in castles with tournaments, feasts, and entertainments, to meetings in member’s homes to work costumes or crafts.
  The best piece of advice I can give before any event that you’re not sure what exactly will be happening at is to call the organiser and ask for details. We’re a friendly bunch in general and will be delighted to hear from you, and to answer your questions.

Here are some common event types in Eplaheimr:

Tuesday evenings
Tuesday arts and crafts meetings are held in a converted workshop belonging to one of our members. The hall is basic but has plenty of table space and is gradually being upgraded and made to look more medieval as time allows.. There are also work benches and many tools that allow woodworking, metal working, and general rough crafts space.
  Larger more formal events like Champions of the Court of Love are usually held in a sports hall, village hall, or some such venue. That we’d rent for the day or a weekend.
 
  For an evening meeting we don’t wear medieval costumes. Craft evenings and medieval garb are often a bad combination. Calligraphy involves ink, cooking has many things that stain, and the rougher crafts are often worse on clothes. For coming to a meeting like this all you need to bring is yourself.
  At all our meetings and events we do try to maintain a high degree of courtesy and politeness, based on the idealised concept of chivalry that the society encourages. So, please be polite and courteous, and try to avoid crude language so as to add to the atmosphere of the SCA.

Monthly Events
For a potluck event or other day or weekend event people wear medieval clothes. So, if you’re new and would like to come along event to see what goes on but don’t have garb or a costume just get in touch with the group seneschal or the person running the event and ask if they can arrange loaner garb for you for the day. We have a good stock available costumes and garb and are happy to lend out something to let people try the SCA without undue expense and effort.

If there is food served at the event (and it’s very rare that there is not) you’ll need something to eat off and with. Again if you contact the person running the event ahead of time or the seneschal they can probably organise some loaner feast-gear for you. This would normally be a wooden plate and bowl, a ceramic, glass or metal drinking vessel, and simple knife, spoon, and fork (in spite of what common knowledge says forks were used in many places before 1600. Normally they were two pronged, but there are several styles from different places and times).
  It’s actually not too hard to find modern made utensils that are also period looking. I recommend coming along and having a look at what others are using before spending money on trying to collect a set of your own.

  Some event offer camping or ‘crash space’ which amounts to indoor camping. I you’re staying over in crash space you’ll need a sleeping bag, pillow, and I’d recommend an air mattress (depending on how medieval an experience you’re after).

  Other than that we don’t supply alcohol at feasts but people are welcome to bring their own. Wine, mead, ale, beer, cider are all period and commonly seen at feasts. We do however take a very dim view of people driving after consuming alcohol. Please do not drink and drive, it would violate the spirit of courtesy that we seek to continue in the society, to place others at risk in such a way.

  When you come to an event mingle, talk to people, feel free to ask questions. Most members are delighted to talk about their crafts, equipment, and skills. If you’re interested in archery, fencing, armoured combat, calligraphy, cooking or whatever don’t be shy about asking who knows about them.

 You can jump right in to most aspects of the SCA. The crafts, feasting, games, bardic circles (singing and music sessions), and so on require no experience or training. Archery is easy to start. We have loaner bows and arrows available and our marshals can instruct you on the relevant safety points before you shoot.
  Fencing and Armoured combat both require training before you get to fight in tournaments but often a basic introductory lesson can be arranged without much difficulty at an event, as long as your aged 18 or over.
 
  If an event lasts all day there will usually be lunch served (usually a simple medieval stew or some such with breads), and a feast in the evening. The word feast has come to mean a lot of different things in the SCA. For some it’s a few simple courses in the evening, at other events it could be a dozen courses or more. Larger day or weekend events will often publish an announcement of the feast details along with the schedule and other information in the groups newsletters, on SCA e-mail lists, and on the web. If you contact the seneschal and ask for a copy of the announcement it should answer many questions for you.

  If they’re any questions you have in advance of any SCA meeting or event you should feel free to ask the Event Steward (Person running the event) or the seneschal. Either person should be happy to help.

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