This weekend is one of our biggest events of the year!
- This Saturday: Festival of Maidens at the University Armory
- Saturday Evening: The After-Party at Eastland Suites with a concert by Bardic Storm
- Sunday: Maidens Sunday Practice at the Stock Pavilion
- Monday night: Arts and Sciences at the Illini Union – Make Your Own Gouache, Mk 2
- Next weekend: Back to our regular schedule
Contact methods
Our Facebook group is the most active place to keep in touch with what we’re up to. You can also join our Meetup group or subscribe to our Google calendar by clicking the + Google Calendar button.
Saturday January 20, Festival of Maidens – 9 – 7(ish)
University Armory (NOT the Illini Union)
This is our 45th annual Festival of Maidens, and we’re bigger and better than ever! We’ve got a lot more floor space at the Armory for fighting, merchants, classes, dancing, and fun — and best of all, it’s right here in Champaign-Urbana, so you won’t need to plan for multiple hours of driving to another end of the state (or another state entirely!)
The full schedule, including heavy and rapier fighting schedules and a wide array of arts and sciences classes, is available at http://caergwynt.midrealm.org/festival-of-maidens
Let us know if you’d like to borrow loaner garb – we have an array of sizes for men and women!
Saturday January 20, After Party including Bardic Storm Concert – 8(ish) to Midnight
Eastland Suites
Didn’t get enough of the festivities during the day? Want to hear medieval music in concert? This year’s Maidens After Party includes a concert by Bardic Storm! See the Facebook event for more details.
Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm: Rapier, Archery, and Heavy Combat (plus general art hangout time!)
Stock Pavilion. 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana.
This Sunday we have the Stock Pavilion all day long for rapier, archery, and heavy combat practice (plus any arts and sciences you’d like to bring to work on in the stands!)
I’ve heard several people mention “darn it, we’re busy Saturday” — if Sunday is better for you, come get a taste of Maidens Lite! We won’t have the royal pomp and circumstance, but we will have the ability to play all day.
If we come up with more specific timing, it’ll be noted at the Facebook event.
Monday Jan. 22: 7 – 9 PM, Arts and Sciences Night (Featuring Make your Own Gouache and Shell Gold)
Illini Union (exact room TBD but probably on the 4th floor, check Facebook for updates)
Since I’ll be teaching gouache and shell gold on Saturday and I’ve heard from some folks that they’d like to learn but Saturday isn’t an option for them, I’m planning to offer a rerun at Arts and Sciences Night on Monday.
You can totally bring your own project too!
Next Sunday the 28th: 1 – 4 pm: Rapier Practice
Stock Pavilion. 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana. (Outside if weather permits; inside if it rains)
This is our weekly rapier fight practice – every Sunday at this time and location. This is open to people of any skill or athleticism level. An instructor will be on hand teaching an intro/beginner course followed with one-on-one instruction, as well as loaner swords and protective equipment.
There will be instructional drills as well as free sparring – so you’ll learn how to swing a sword, then get a chance to do it! Males should wear an athletic cup, and both genders should wear sufficient clothing to leave no bare skin below the waist (long pants, tall socks, closed toe shoes). If you have any questions about attending, or are intending to bring someone under the age of 18 to learn, please contact Ursus at r.andrew.marks@gmail.com
