Site Opens

The site opens at 9 am and closes at 9 pm. We respectfully ask that, if possible, our guest please dress in Shire colors, Black & Silver. If you can not wear shire colors, we understand.

Fees

Site Fee $5, Children under 12 are free, NMF $3. Feast $9 pre-registered; $12 at the door. Feast for children ages 5 to 9 is $4. Lunch is available for $3. Merchants fee is a donated item for the silent auction.

Fighting

Heavy Weapons Tourney
Armor inspection at 10:30 a.m., authorizations will be at 11 a.m. and the tournament will be at Noon.

Three Musketeers Fencing Tourney
A four stage tournament containing the virtues of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d’Artagnan. Weapons inspection is at 11 a.m. and the tournament will be at Noon.

Silent Auction

A silent auction to help defry the cost of the event will be presented during the day, with final bids around 4 p.m. ish.

Children’s Hour

Children will make crafts, have color sheets and a light snack. Parents are required to attend with their children.

Schedule of Events

8:00 Site set up & open to merchants
9:00 Site opens to the populace
10:00 Fun Facts on Fencing Class
10:30 Armor Inspection
11:00 Armored Combat Authorizations
Rapier Weapon Inspection
Pill Box Hat Class
12:00 Lunch
Armored Combat and Rapier Tournaments Begin
1:00 Wheat Weaving Class
2:00 Children’s Hour
Middle Eastern Dance Practice
3:30 Trolls Close
European Dance Class
4:00 Merchants Close
Fighting ends
4:30 Lower level of site closes
5:00 Feast Set Up
6:00 Feast
7:00 Dance and Dessert Revel
9:00 Site Closes for the populace
Clean up

Classes

Fun Facts on Fencing ~ This will be a round table discussion on the fun facts of fencing and will be presented in the fencing list area at 10 a.m.
European Dance ~ Lord Wendell will be teaching, Korabushka, Hole in the Wall, Sellingers Round, Horses Bransel, and official Bransel. If there is time we will do more. Dance will be held from 3:30p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pill Box Hats ~ The pill box hat was popular throughout the Middle Ages. Come see how to make one. The pill box hat is the basis for several different era fashions. 11 am.
Wheat Weaving ~ Wheat Weaving is a tradition as old as the harvest itself. Learn a little about this art and how to make a simple design. 1 pm.
Blacksmith Class ~ This class will be presented by Lord Aidan of Aran. Three students will have the possibility to make and keep tongs, punch and chisel at a period charcoal forge. There will be a fly to keep the weather off our heads, but it is drafty, dress appropriately for the weather in closed toe shoes, natural fibers, no plastics. Poofy sleeves and clothing that might drape into the forge are inappropriate. Eye protection will be provided. There is a materials fee of five dollars.
Middle Eastern Dance Practice ~ More Information to come.

Barter Boxes

There will be 12 barter boxes, so anyone or any team that want to try their hand at swindling…urrr bartering please pick up a box and start stealing…oops I meant trading. There is a point system for items in the boxes and you win by collecting the most points. What’s the point system you might ask? To which we say wa ha ha ha. Any ties will be decided by the honorable judges eenie meenie minee moe.

Merchants

No merchant fee! However we are asking for a donation to the silent auction. Space is limited to one 8 foot table per merchant (table provided). Please register with Lord Eirik at archandler2001@yahoo.com or phone him at 309-558-7030 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Lunch

A small repast is planned, including eggs, fruit, bread, spreads, cakes, & meat pies. Lunch will be $3.00. Lunch will be served in the lower kitchen.

Our Feast

We are planning on holding a Contest on the Art of Courtly Love during the feast. Details are still being worked out.

Our Chef for the evening is THL Annyse Lionstone. Course One: Rye Bread, Herbed Butter, Hard Boiled Eggs, Kielbossa Bean Soup and Spiced Honey Nuts. Course Two: A Platter of Smoked Meats (Turkey, Beef, Pork), Cameline Sauce, Garlic Sauce and Lombardy Mustard, a rice pilaf, Compost and a Winter Vegetable Salat. Drinks are Lemonade, Tea and Sekanjabin. The recipes and ingredient list will be available that day. Please register ahead of time if you want the vegetarian choices. Any other dietary restrictions or comments should be sent to annyselionstone@yahoo.com
There will be limited off board seating. PLEASE NOTE: THE SITE IS BONE DRY!

Dessert Revel

We repectfully requesting donations to the dessert revel, and we will be forever grateful to any gentle arriving with honeyed tidbits for our table.

Period sweets are wonderful, but we really like chocolate. Hint Hint. The dessert table is free to everyone.

Plan on dancing until the site closes at 9pm. The dance is a great place to practice the Art of Courtly Love.

Reservations

Please send our Autocrat your reservations Lord Eirik, aka Anthony Chandler, 1211 31st Street. Rock Island, IL 61201. Please list your legal name and Society name. Make checks payable to SCA, Shire of Dark River.

Any questions may be sent to archandler2001@yahoo.com

Directions to Site

From the West, take I-80 to the Quad Cities. Take exit 298 to merge onto I-74 E east which will take you to Illinois. Take exit 2 in Moline IL Take a right onto 7th Avenue. At the next light turn left onto 14th Street. At the next light turn right onto 12th Avenue. Proceed to the Church which will be on your left.

From the East, coming in on I-88/IL 5 OR I-280 take I-74 toward Iowa. At exit 2 in Moline, Il take a left onto 7th Avenue At the next light turn left onto 14th Street. At the next light turn right onto 12th Avenue. Proceed to the Church which will be on your left.

Local Hotel Information: The closest hotel to the site is the Economy Inn
1191 19th St Moline, IL 61265 (309) 764-9644 - economyinnflorence.com
The hotel is approximately 2 minutes by car from the site.