Schedule

No merchants permitted by park regulation.

Site restrictions:

• No firearms
• Dogs on leash only
• No fires
• No alcohol

Newcomers

The Society for Creative Anachronism is an educational nonprofit where we recreate activities from before the year 1600. People participate in martial arts like swordfighting and archery, crafting projects like baking and weaving, performances like singing and storytelling, and other medieval activities like heraldry and dancing. We invite people to recreate any culture from across the globe - you are not limited to medieval Europe. We welcome everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, age, sexuality, citizenship or disability and we hope you will feel included and loved in our Barony.

You don't have to do anything before you show up; you can choose to either pre-register or pay at the gate. We require everyone to wear “an attempt” at pre-1600s clothing (from any region or culture), but don't worry if you don't have any; let us know when you arrive and we will lend you something. You don't need to be a member, but if you want the $10 member discount, you can sign up here: https://www.sca.org/join-us/

After you've paid the gate fee ($20, or $10 with the member discount), everything at the event is free to participate in. There are no extra charges for classes, activities, or cake.

If you have questions, you can contact the Event Steward or check out our local Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/344174302157

Please let us know at the gate if you're a newcomer and you'd like someone to help show you around and explain the activities to you!

Registration

• Adult Member Discount Registration: $10
• Adult Non-Member: $20
• Youth (6-17): Free
• Child (0-5): Free

Make Checks Payable To: SCA, Inc., Barony of Ponte Alto

Registration Notes: Please include your modern and SCA name, Membership Number if applicable and what is included in your payment.

Cancellation Policy: any cancellation/request for refund made prior to the event date will be honored. All Cancellations/Requests for refunds must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable). No refunds are issued until the event books have been closed and/or all checks have cleared.

Event Steward: Meliora Sedgewick
Email:

A Little History

This year’s Blood Bath theme is that of the Field of the Cloth Of Gold, or, Camp du Drap d'Or if you happen to be French!

Held near the port town of Calais, which was still in the hands of the English, the Field of the Cloth of Gold was a dazzling meeting between two renaissance monarchs, Francis I and Henry VIII, in the early, hopeful years of their respectful reigns. (Which is to say, before the other five wives, all those beheadings and burnings, and the gross leg thing.)

The meeting was meant to foster peace between the English and French, it was also a chance for Henry the 8th and Francis I to attempt to outdo each other in conspicuous consumption. The name Field of the Cloth Of Gold was quite literal, with tents and clothes glittering in the bright june sun! The Anglo-French rivalry ran deep at this point, and even though the armies the kings had brought with them were just for show, the Kings themselves did fight in a famous monarchical wrestling match where Henry VIII famously lost!

There already were the stirrings of modernity. The Field of the Cloth of Gold was overseen by Henry’s Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Woolsey, a man of humble origins who had risen to the heights of handling the business of kings.

It was a time of revelry and rivalry, but a darker future loomed. Francis and Henry would soon be at war with each other again, and Woolsey would die having fallen out of favor while on the way to stand trial for treason. However, we can celebrate a meeting of English and Continental culture during the Northern Renaissance, and wear our very best garb to have our very own field of Cloth of Gold to celebrate our barony!

Arts & Sciences

A&S

With a theme inspired by the Field of Cloth of Gold, we encourage you to wear your best garb, no matter where or when your persona is from!

Bardic

Bards After Battle: Our bardic circle begins at 1pm and will last until court. Participants may bring any poem, story, song, comedy routine, musical performance or theatrical speech which they wish to show off and share (staying under 5 minutes please). Performances relating to the 1400s/1500s Italian theme are encouraged but not required. Bring singalongs to revive the spirits of our weary warriors!

Dance

Dance activities begin at 10am. 10am-11am French bransles, then at 11am-12pm noon English country dance. Open dance/ball at 2pm.

Martial Activities

Rapier and Armored Authorizations begin at 10am.
Don't forget your fighter authorization cards!!!

Armored

11am-1pm Titan Challenge bear pit tourney.
1pm-2pm Open Field

Rapier

11am-12pm noon: Blood Pit Titan tourney
12:15pm-1:15pm: Melee of the Field of Cloth of Gold
1:15pm: Field open for Pick-ups
1:30pm-2:30pm: Cut & Thrust tourney
2:30pm: tear down
Additional rapier details can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eh-KBLxJI24FMMCK4S1Ws9Cc6r3X3n_O9UXrJIA5SNI/edit?usp=drivesdk

Armored & Rapier participants may enter the pit as many times as they choose, and receive one point for each fight and one additional point for each win. The winner remains in the pit to face the next challenger.

The Baron encourages dramatic deaths. The hammiest death in each pit will receive a small ham-themed prize.

Youth

11am-1pm: Youth authorizations and pick-ups.
1pm-2pm: Youth Armored Combat Tourney! The populace is encouraged to come and cheer our youngest fighters on, as they attempt to master new weapons forms and honorably defeat their opponents.

Thrown Weapons: Slings-only!

A sling-only thrown weapons acivity will be open from 10am until 2:30pm. Never tried a balearic sling before? Now is a great opportunity to give it a try!
Teardown to begin at 2:30pm