Knights take over Woodland Zoo
FARMINGTON – Armored knights on horseback rode through the fog and rain. The horses they were on pranced around in circles as Sir Thomas Bradwardyn and Sir Charles Stanley jousted, trying to knock each other off his horse. King Henry VIII and his Queen watched from nearby, cheering on Stanley as the joust progressed and became more intense. In the end, Stanley won, much to the crowd’s delight.
The Fayette County Renaissance Festival, held Saturday at the Woodland Zoo & Herald-Standard Pavilion, transported the spectators who braved the rain and cool temperatures back in time to 1475, during the War of the Roses.
During that time, Tom Nader, who plays Bradwardyn, said knights would joust in order to sharpen their combat skills. They also jousted for entertainment, he said.
“It was the ultimate sport during their time,” he said. “It was to them what the Super Bowl is for many people today.”
Nader said knights would travel to different towns during breaks from battles and compete in different jousts for money and notoriety.
The armor they wore, including chain mail and helmet, weighed about 65 pounds, Nader said. However, it wasn’t as constricting as many people think.
Scott Lance, who plays Stanley, demonstrated his agility despite the armor by doing two cartwheels in the field after the joust was over.
“That’s the way you’re supposed to be able to move in armor,” Lance said.
Both men said the damp weather didn’t bother them. “It’s like England,” Nader said.
However, the weather did seem to keep some people away from the festival, which was sponsored by the Fayette Opportunity Network.
Joseph Carei, president of the Fayette Opportunity Network, said he thinks more people would have attended the festival had the weather cooperated.
“We had a good turnout for this kind of weather,” he said.
The Fayette Opportunity Network was created last year and is designed to bring young professionals together in Fayette County “to foster an environment that supports new ideas, positive thinking, progressive action and social interaction for young and young-minded people,” according to the organization’s mission statement.
“We want people to know there are opportunities in Fayette County,” said Carei, adding that the group is starting to gain validity and respect in the community.
The renaissance festival is the organization’s first event, and all proceeds benefited the Uniontown YMCA and the Mental Health Association, said treasurer Jeremy Burnworth.
Burnworth, who is also membership chairman, said Fayette Opportunity Network currently has about 45 members and is growing.