The 2008 NJ Family Medieval and Fantasy Festival will be on June 7-8, 2008!
Paladin Music & Entertainment, Inc.
Presents
2007
NJ Family Medieval and Fantasy Festival
Saturday,
June 9 *10 am - 5 pm
Sunday,
June 10 * 12 pm - 7 pm
St.
Mark's Concert Field * 59 Spring Lane * Long Valley, NJ
Synopsis
The 2007 NJ Medieval & Fantasy Festival saw a new venue and time of year. It's success was due to good attendance by local and loyal patrons, over two dozen vendors, a variety of music - more than we have ever had, contests, face painting, castle bounce house, educational demonstrations, and a murder mystery. For the first time, we had a 40x80' tent in case of rain or, this year, for shade. Village folk interacted with patrons and The Paladin Knight made his appearance on Sunday.
"I think what makes this festival so successful, is its warm, intimate and fun-filled atmosphere. There's not greater satisfaction than seeing smiles on parents and laughter in children. The energy is so positive and strong, One would think our team would be exhausted from all the work, yet instead, we feel rejuvenated! It truly is magical!" -Chris Lance, Producer
This year's story...what happened!
The village Marcus Templum is located in the mountainous land of Mons Silva, known for its scenic views, rolling hills, babbling creeks, and well...haunted woods! The local folk are kind and jovial and love their music! The Duchess of the village invited Princess Julissa as her guest. But something is awry! The Duke is missing! The Paladin Knight, being delayed by another quest on his journey to the village, hear's of this tragedy. He sends word to his friend, Sir William, to attend the Medieval Festival and solve the mystery. The weekend long investigation reveals that the Duke had an affair with the peasant woman Melissa, The Duchess found out and hired the Rat Catcher to abduct and dispose of the Duke! Sir William discovered this and placed the Duchess under armed guards. What will happen next? Attend the 2008 NJ Family Medieval and Family Festival to find out!!
Music
Entertainment Summary
By
popular request, the emphasis of this year's NJ Festival was on music!
Our Featured Musical Guests for the Weekend were...
Jodee
James
(Saturday
and Sunday)
Vocals & guitar
Jodee James, brings a new energy to the music of Wales. A top Celtic artist in MP3 sales, Jodee conjures the very essence of tradition, whether of this century or many centuries before us. U.K. music critic Simon Jones of Folk Roots says about Jodee, "with her voice like a nightingale she spins century old tales in with her own deft touches to create modern settings for ancient Welsh music and lore." Jodee enjoys local history and with her music strives to carry on the stories of immigration and Welsh placement here in America. Singing traditional songs in both Welsh and English, she also incorporates Welsh legend, historical events and "fancy", into her original songs. Nobles, shepherds, lovers and dreamers, birds as messengers and inspiring heroes all come to life in Jodee's music.
Jodee
has performed throughout North America at venues such as the
National Welsh American Foundation, Washington DC; Longwood Gardens,
PA; Ames City Auditorium, IA; University of Pittsburgh; Plymouth
Medieval Forum, NH; Celtic Connections Concerts, IL; New Jersey Folk
Festival; Musikfest, PA; Irish Cultural & Heritage Center of
Milwaukee; Godfrey Daniels, PA, Walnut Valley Festival, KS; Walt
Whitman Arts Center, NJ, and the W.A. Singleton Center for the Arts,
VA. Jodee has toured with Ireland's button accordion wizard David
Munnelly and his band. She is a member of the storytelling and song
duo Merched Madoc, as well as the band, Celtic Sisters.
Arlene
Muzyka
Percussion,
Harmonium & Backing Vocals
Her
name says it all ;) Multi-instrumentalist Arlene Muzyka adds her own
blend of ethnic percussion. She has performed at various venues such
as Longwood Gardens, Milwaukee Irish Cultural Center and the
University of Pittsburgh. Arlene has performed with groups including
the New York Choral Society, Harmonium and is a member of Celtic
Sisters. Arlene is also known for her unique original jewelry
designs, including Celtic jewelry.
Violetta
Norrie
Child
Harpist
Violetta
Norrie has been playing the harp since the age of 6 (she is now 10).
A resident of New Jersey, Violetta is fifth grader at Edgemont
Montessori School where she is a member of the Orff Ensemble under
the direction of Alan Price. Frances Duffy is her private harp
teacher. She also studies piano with Rebecca Eng. Violetta was the
youngest harpist to attend last year's American Harp Society Summer
Camp sponsored by the New Jersey Youth Symphony. This coming summer,
she will be participating in the Somerset Folk Harp Festival.
Jeff
Kalmar
Acoustic
Guitar, Vocals
Jeff
Kalmar is a guitarist with over 30 years' experience in rock, folk
and Celtic traditional music. He has played with such bands as The
Reelies, Orion, Summerland, AvalonUSA, Real Magick and Music for the
Goddess. Currently he is preparing for the 2007 Renaissance Faire
season and recording a solo CD for release this summer.
Brenadette
Acuria
Vocals
Brenadette
is an up and coming young vocalist. Paladin Music &
Entertainment, Inc. has always enjoyed discovering new, talented
artists and featuring them at the Medieval Festival. Brenadette is no
exception! A student at Hackettstown High School, Brenadette has
performed in several school musicals, sung the national anthem at
games, and participates in her local church choir.
Rob
Reyes
Acoustic
Guitar
Rob
did an excellent job as sound man. This rocker brought his softer
side to the Festival as he accompanied Brenadette Acuria on acoustic
guitar. Rob's acting skills equal his amazing musical talent and is
no stranger to Paladin Music. He has been cast in an episode of MTV's
"Damage Control" and played Sgt. Sandoval in the local
Halloween production of "The Hunt for the Jersey Devil!"
Other Entertainment in the Realm
The
Adrian Empire
The
Adrian Empire dazzled patrons with light and heavy armour
demonstrations. Some of the knights had fun on Sunday joing in on the
Adult Pillow Joust! The Adrisn Empire is a non-profit educational
organization dedicated to the study and recreation of Western
European culture between the years 1066 and 1603. Their members work
to recreate the arts and skills of this era. They also include other
cultures that commonly interacted with the Western Europeans during
our time frame. This exciting development means there is now even
more rich history, culture, and tradition to explore!
The
Duchy of Cambridge incorporates the Northeastern lands of New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont, with events held on the third
weekend of every month. Please visit their Yahoo Group for the latest
information about our upcoming events. Cambridge
Yahoo group.
The
borders for the Shire of Burgandy are mundanely known as the
Northeastern/Central counties in the state of Pennsylvania. Within
these borders, you will discover and experience many old traditions
of Adria as the viceroy of the Shire, Sir Antoine de Burgandy is one
of the Founding Viscounts of the Empire itself. Burgundy
Yahoo Group.
The
NJ Chinese Historical Swordsmanship Society
We
were pleased to welcome the Ziran
T'aichi Kungfu Center who demonstrated throughout the day, the
core skills of Chinese Historical Swordsmanship using instructional
methods from the 11th century and developed by the Yang Family to
train Chinese military in the 1800`s. The majority of the techniques
and fighting methods used in this system of swordsmanship are derived
from the Yang Family Michuan Taiji Sword form and the Yang Taiji
public sword form widely practiced in the Chen Man Ching Lineage. The
practice of Chinese Historical Swordsmanship begins with the Jian
(straight sword). Other weapons such as sabre, spear, etc. are later
introduced, allowing for varied combat dynamics.
Why: Thousands practice Chinese sword forms, but few have been trained in their actual martial use. Chinese swordsmanship in the modern era is almost a lost art. Practice of weapons in taiji are often used as advanced training in order to enhance and improve skills such as balance, extension, centralization, fajing, etc. Although these remain important benefits, taiji swordsmanship and other weapons training were first and foremost a practical combative system.
DragonFlame
Archery
Tim
Willis returned to the NJ Medieval Festival showing off his archery
skills! As a member of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and
owner of DragonFlame Archery, Tim gave archery demonstrations
throughout the weekend.
The
Wandering Poet
Edmund
Baranowski is a peasant who has been traveling the country
performing his poetry in bars, coffee houses, and bookstores, fairs,
festivals, and on the street, from NY to LA, the Boundary Waters to
the Sonoran Desert, the Bay of Fundy to Malory Square.
He
has made appearances as the Wandering Poet at National Parks and
Renaissance Faires in MN, AZ, CA, WY, CO, NY, NJ, PA, NC, and Canada.
He
has 127 original poems prepared for delivery and would tell any of
them to anyone who would look a peasant in the eye. He also has five
books of poems which he made himself with parchment and yarn. You can
find him wandering almost anywhere in the realm bowing to all who
pass him by.
Trish
Reynolds, Fantasy and Science Fiction Author
The
Trish Reynolds is a prolific fantasy and science fiction author. She
wrote for New Moon Rising Magazine for the twelve years it was in
print. Trish is also the author of a number of popular novels in the
paranormal and fantasy genres. She joins us today to sign her latest
book and, as Zyalia, Hogwart's Dragon Mistress, presented a fun talk
on "Dragons!"
Blessing
Archangels