Christian academy hosts medieval night

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Chivalrous knights and damsels in distress will attend the Sisters Christian Academy "Medieval Night" on Thursday, March 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the academy gymnasium.

The entire building will be transformed into a rollicking Renaissance Faire and Medieval Town Square complete with strolling minstrels, games of chance, contests of skill and hearty snacks and food. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume and share in the historic revelry of the themed event.

Booths for artisans and craftsmen will offer a selection of cloth items and jewelry for sale while a blacksmith explains the tools of his trade beside the tempting aromas of fresh baked rolls and pastries. Candlemakers will present a demonstration of their craft while ladies educate visitors on the art of dyeing cloth. Chicken, desserts and beverages are available for purchase as a full meal or ala carte. Admission is free.

A church area features holy relics and various indulgences for viewing and a corner providing a setting for the royal court. The Renaissance Ladies, a local musical group, will play period tunes on their recorders, and tiny troubadours will entertain and enact a reader's theater, short skits and songs at various points during the evening.

There will also be a public pillory with stocks, where guests may have a souvenir picture taken. Middle schoolers in period costume will greet friends and neighbors throughout the evening and perform a skit about the signing of the Magna Carta, each sporting a personal coat of arms designed and painted by themselves.

Medieval Night will be a schoolwide event, from preschool through eight grade.

Deborah Halsten is the middle school history teacher for Sisters Christian Academy and explained how the idea blossomed.

"We usually do Living History Museum twice a year, and this fun event is in addition to that," she said. "So myself and my teaching assistant, Scout Miller, decided since we were doing the Middle Ages unit that we'd expand it into an entire event for the whole school and invite the public. We hope people will come get into the spirit of the times and come celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us in our authentic Medieval English Village of Knightsbridge."

Sisters Christian Academy is located at 15211 McKinney Butte Rd. Call 541-549-4133 for more information.