Renaissance festival brings medieval times back to life

MIDDLE AMANA — Brett Monnard, dressed as a Scottish nobleman, had an explanation for why the Scots competed with one another tossing logs, irons and large rocks.
“If you aren’t going to practice with weapons, you have to find a way to keep your strength up,” he explained to the crowd about how English rulers banned the people of Scotland from having weapons during medieval times.
The demonstration of the Scottish games, known as the Highlander games, was among the festivities of the 20th annual Iowa Renaissance Festival at Middle Amana Park in Middle Amana. Presented as Iowa’s tribute to “olde Europe and world culture,” the festival, which had taken place in Mason City and Des Moines before finding a permanent home in Amana in 2000, featured a little bit of everything from weapons and fighting demonstrations to crafts, food and clothing from several hundred years ago, said Gregory Schmidt, the festival’s founder and organizer.
“We call it a state fair from the 1500s Europe,” he said. “It’s a multi-faceted, well-rounded experience of village life from years past that (appeals to all).”
Schmidt said the festival featured 60 groups performing comedy acts, demonstrating weapons and teaching about life in medieval Europe. Attendees also could take in crafts, sample beers and wines, and watch shows featuring minstrels, magicians and bagpipe players.
Monnard, part of the Clan MacSwade group that demonstrated highland heavy throwing the group carried on despite the rain, which prevented spectators from trying some of the activities including throwing irons and large rocks.
“We feel a hands-on experience helps it stick in their mind,” he said.
Further down the row, Ying Ling of Iowa City and her friends Huichen Tseng and Hsin Yicheng of Iowa City learned about the ancient game of mancala, in which stones are passed along a row and piled with Jeff Jones of Janesville, Wis. Ling, a native of Taiwan, said she was impressed with the spectacle of the weapons, period clothing and spices.
“I’m here for the first time, and I’ve never seen so many people dressed so traditionally,” she said.
Those in attendance also could try throwing axes and knives.
Scott Kelsay of Iowa City and his son, 15-year-old Micah Kelsay, tried their hand at knife throwing, trying to hit playing cards on a board. The knives clanged off the board several times, though several stuck.
“It’s a lot harder than it looks,” he said, adding he and his son had tried the axe throwing earlier. “Most of these things are, I think.”
The Iowa Renaissance Festival continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Schmidt said.