Last Saturday, the Central Library celebrated all things middle aged; or rather, all things Middle Ages and Renaissance at the Medieval Arts Festival, a community education event the library has held for the past 10 years.
Highlights of the afternoon included demonstrations staged by the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a "living history' organization dedicated to hands-on learning experiences that relate to pre-17thcentury western Europe. The organization's brochure encourages members to develop a Middle Ages "persona' that specializes in armoring, calligraphy, spinning, heraldry, medieval lighting, or wood carving.
At the library's Medieval Arts Festival, many of these skills were demonstrated by Society volunteers. They were also on hand to answer questions from Saturday's library patrons about the group's live exhibits, which centered around medieval food, weaponry and armor, tapestry, needlework and jewelry making.
Other demonstrations of Middle Ages culture were offered by local "medieval facts examiner' Troy Depue, who came in costume to discuss medieval fighting strategies and everyday aspects of Middle Ages life.
The festival's youngest guests had the opportunity to participate in a "princess' story time event that was followed by a plumed hat-making activity; and a "knights, kings, queens and dragons' story time led by a professional storyteller, where the children learned how to "march to defend the castle' and a medieval-styled line dance.
Event sponsors included Theatre Arlington, which loaned the Library a complete set of knight's armor and other props; and Medieval Times, which provided king-and-queen crowns for the festival's youngest guests.
"We like to have this event in October so we can do things inside and outside and enjoy the weather,' said librarian David Jackson. "This year's event has been one of the best-attended we've ever had.'
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