Free time this summer? Step back in Time at the first annual County Renaissance Fair! By Kevin Wilkinson "The County Renaissance Faire" is coming to Prince Edward County and will include fun and festivities for the whole family, with food and drink, games to play, plays to watch, a Renaissance art show, and even a catapult demonstration! Authenticity is key and actors, artists, and vendors will be dressed in period costume adding to the amusement, with theatrical performances to help you step back in time. The fairs of old were known for their plays, put on by guilds or by the church. They were first limited to bibli- cal stories like St. George and the Dragon, but later many different secular plays were introduced. This fair will fea- ture the Marysburgh Mummers theater troupe in action, performing short plays, or scenes from plays, such as Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night. ' Food is a must for any fair and this one will be no different, but the food certainly will be. Local corn-on-the- cob, baked potatoes, hot soft pretzels, local apple cider (the "soft" kind), lemonade, and other 'authentic' refreshments will be available. Games and sports were as popular in the 1500s as they are now -- if less hi-tech -- and there will be games for all at the fair. Archery will be front and centre, as it was hundreds of years ago when practically every Englishman, of almost any class, practiced with the bow and arrow. Other games will include English 9 holes, which was a popular game akin to lawn bowling, and a dunk tank will mimic a lighter form of Renaissance punishment which, though not by far the worst that could happen, was still very embarrassing. A very 'County-like' rise in the interest of art and music, as well as in science, previously unheard of] her- . alded the Renaissance, or what is often termed the cultural rebirth in Europe. Great artists were born and they created amazing works of a quality that had never been seen. Fast forward 500 years and county artists are now making re- markable artwork, some of which will be displayed at the fair with some artists demonstrating their talents on site. The event runs rain or shine at the Milford Fair- grounds on August 15%, 2004, Note that The County Ren- aissance Faire is a not-for-profit based community event and a portion of the proceeds for the event will be donated to Mount Tabor with the balance going towards next year's festival. The Renaissance Faire Committee is looking for volunteers, as well contributions from local businesses, both financial and in-kind. Please call Christine Renaud or Kevin Renaud-Wilkinson at 476-9141, or Pat Dubyk at 962-1792 if you would like to get involved. And watch for the date of our upcoming public meeting in the March/April issue of Express magazine and - in the next issue of The Mirror. St. Philip's Anglican Church * Milford is seeking an ORGANIST for Sunday Worship Services at 11.00 a.m. & Choir practice as necessary Remuneration to be negotiated please call Art Cole at 476-6293 or Bruce Walker at 476-6063