Canterbury Faire

2010 dates: Sat 30 January (site open from 4pm) - Sun 7 February, with the first weekend and the final Sunday being non-garbed setup/packdown days. 2010 BOOKINGS WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER. See 2009's event schedule for an indication of 2010 plans.

2009 Highlights

More days, more time, more relaxing!
Heavy fighting, rapier and archery almost every day
Equestrian activities and display
Final Court of Bartholomew and katherine
Half-Circle Theatre, a theatrical extravaganza
Village Games: more silliness than you can shake a stick at
A Formal Ball and a Peasants' Dance
Appointment and first Court of new Southron Gaard B&B
Market Day
All-arms Warfare
An event-long meal plan
Fighter auction tourney: "motto" style!
Superlative Feast
Hafla alternative on Feast night
Passage of the Pantheon Pas d'Armes
Fine A&S classes and workshops
The notorious Mangy Mongol

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See images from an earlier Faire in this gallery. and don't miss Taztorien's excellent five-minute video sampling of CF 2007.

Imagine the scene: 250 gentles garbed in soft wools and linens. Banners and pennons fly gently in the breeze that stirs the firs. Nearby is a coffee house, where stories of past renown and future conquest are spun, while spindles twirl a more tangible yarn. To one side, knights and nobles practice the arts martial, while consorts discuss bruise remedies. Flocks of charming children run errands when not playing on the lush green grass. A short walk away there is singing beside the waterhole and splashing in the cool deep waters. A hedgehog snuffles idly by.

Peter Jackson couldn't direct Canterbury Faire more perfectly than Southron Gaard. For a precious week, fairegoers step away from the mundane world to a place where clashes of arms see honour showered on victor and loser alike; where the gentle arts are taught and practiced at a pace that allows for true learning; where the Mangy Mongol coffee house keeps even the grumpiest in morning trim; and where theatre and music is always just about to happen.
...Canterbury Faire as seen by Duchess Yolande Kesteven

Come join us for feasting, fun and frolics at Canterbury Faire, hosted by the Barony of Southron Gaard. No mud, no dust, no venymous fauna!

Comfortable bunkrooms, hot showers, shady tent sites, optional meal plan, real toilets, enjoyable medieval pastimes from dawn 'til dusk, and then some.

Canterbury Faire 2009: Jan 31 (site opens 4pm) to Feb 8 inclusive (first two days are casual camping/setup, last day is packdown)
Waipara, 45 minutes north of Christchurch, New Zealand (see directions)

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Faire Stewards: Lady Sybilla Cuspinian and Lady Ginevra Isabella Serafina della Visconti

Please note: the Faire is a private function rather than a public entertainment, hosted by the Barony of Southron Gaard. Guests and day visitors are most welcome so long as they observe our customs and wear medieval costume while attending. More information for people new to the SCA is available here, and you'll find these notes on common SCA conventions handy.