Event Summary

Event Main Contact (Event Steward): Ivon Drengr
Date: May 22 , 2009 until May, 25 2009
Site opens at: 12:00 AM on May 22th 2009
Site closes at: 12:00 AM on May 25th 2009

Event site:
Columbia County Fairgrounds
58892 Saulser Rd. St. Helens, OR 97051

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The Grand Thing IV

May 22nd – May 25th, 2009

The Barony of Stromgard and the Village of Bjorgvin would like to invite you to the
Fourth Annual Grand Thing.  This is a period event
focusing on the Nordic and Celtic traditions of the Viking
era with fighting, contests, games, and a Grand
Feast! 

There will be a Multi-Weapons Tournament with five weapons
styles (sword & shield, axe & shield, spear &
shield, two-handed axe, and two-handed spear) with a Master
Grendal made Damascus Sax as the
prize, a Memorial Great Axe Tournament (bring word fame of
the fallen in song, prose, or saga to enter), a Monastery
Raid (where you keep what booty you can escape with), and a
Domination Tourney where not just your skill is tested but
your courage and valor as well; can you withstand the Storm
of Steel? 

We will have classes (Norse and Celt) available on many
subjects.  The
Baroness will host a Norse Trade Blanket Saturday
night. 
We’ll have a Bardic-Circle
at the covered fire-pit.  There will be contests in:
Archery (the Stromgard Baronial Archery Champion will be
selected), Equestrian, Caber Toss, Spear Throwing and much
more.  We will
repeat the siege-cooking contest “Barbarians at the
Gate”; bring whatever you need to feed 20 warriors and
maybe they will go away.  The food from the contest
will be used at Saturday’s potluck feast. 

Everyone is invited to the Great Hall with seating for 500 to
attend a Grand Feast Saturday night.  This feast is a pot-luck
with contributions divided by modern last name: A-F:
Bread/Cheese; G-L: Side Dish or Vegetables; M-S: Main Dishes;
T-Z: Deserts/Fruits (please bring enough for 10 or more
people).  After
the feast we will be holding a traditional Norse
“Thing”, a gathering where laws are made and
conflicts are resolved. This ‘Thing’ re-enactment
is to present how Nordic law governed their culture.

There are two event-long contests:  A ‘Best Garb for
your Station’ contest and a ‘Best
Hospitality’ contest.  For Best Garb the prizes
go to whoever has the best presentation of either Nordic or
Celtic garb and persona presentation.  This contest is limited by
neither skill nor pocket book, the Wealthy Noble, Mighty King
or Beggar in the street have equal chances.  We are looking for your
best depiction of a persona whether that is a high noble or a
leper, a king or jester.  Both garb design and
presentation will be judged throughout the event by hidden
judges.  The
‘Best Hospitality’ contest will be judged in the
same way.  We
want to promote the legacy of hospitality as handed down to
us by our Nordic and Celtic ancestors.  Hidden judges will be
moving about the event visiting encampments looking for those
who embrace courtesy and hospitality, the winner bears the
horn of hospitality for a year.  Any time it runs empty you
can find it refilled in the Village of Bjorgvin or by the Baron of Stromgard.

We will have equestrian activities (including the start-off
of the Baronial Championship season) and an equestrian live
steel demo.  The
equestrian area is a groomed, out-door arena with indoor
stalls for the horses (no stall fee).  If you are bringing horses
please contact Countess Miranda at
brothers@pacifier.com

There will be a teen dance on Saturday night at Bairnhalla, a children’s Grand Thing
luncheon Saturday at noon in Bjorgvin, and many other youth
activities.

Site has water, electricity, and bathrooms with
showers.  We
have large tracts of land for camping and we are adding
porta-potties for the camp
area. 

Large groups contact Landocrat:
HL GaeiRa at mywildchild_2000@yahoo.com.

Site opens:
12PM on Friday closes 1PM Monday.

Site fee:
(add $3 each for non-members), Adults-$15.00, Children 12-17
$5.00, under-12
free, Family Cap $40, day-pass $8.00. 

Make checks payable to: Barony of Stromgard. 

Merchant fee:
A donation of your choice to the prize chest.  Ten
10’ x 10’
permanent shop
stalls available for $10 each, on a first-come first-reserved
basis.

Pre-Registration
Form:

Pre-Registration Merchant
Form:

Ten percent of all profits will be donated to the Kingdom
Travel Fund.

Autocrat:
Finnr Skeggason (Dave Hulegaard), 3790 Wilshire Lane Eugene,
OR97405 finnr01@comcast.net

(541)579-1311 not after 9PM.

Co-Autocrat:
Sgt. Ivon Drengr (Jerry Barber), 7416 NE 72ndAve
Vancouver, WA98661 gebarber2001@yahoo.com

(360)253-2350 not after 10PM.

www.thegrandthing.org

 

Schedule of Events

 

Friday:   
               
  

9 AM Set-up begins

11 AM Gate opens for merchants

12 PM Gate opens for populace

  4 PM Children:
Bairnhalla opens at 4H building while parents set up camp (2
hrs)

  4 PM Teen:
Social meet and greet at Bairnhalla (3 hrs)

  6 PM
Equestrian: Archery demo (1hr)

  7 PM Meet and
greet with Stromgard and Bjorgvinn (4hr)

  8 PM Teen:
Predator and prey game at Bairnhalla (2hr)          

10 PM Gate party with Sgt. Ivon and Lord Johannes at gate
(3hr)

12 AM Gate “officially” closes but if you come
late call me. No one is turned away

 

Saturday:              

  9 AM Gate
“officially” opens

  9 AM A &
S: Wire weaving class at exhibit hall (1 hr)

10 AM Opening Court (archery / equestrian championship list
opens) (1 hr)

11 AM A & S: Viking fabric and color selections class at
exhibit hall (1 hr)

11 AM Siege Cooking “Barbarians at the Gate”
begins

11 AM Armor inspection begins

11 AM Thrown Weapons: Practice knives, axes, and spears at
archery range (1 hr)

11 AM Equestrian: Arena opens for practice (1 hr)

11 AM Children/Teen: Wool hat making class at Bairnhalla (1
½ hrs)

11:30 AM Multi-Weapons tourney begins (3 hrs)

12 PM Thrown Weapons: Competition knives, axe, and spears at
archery range (1 hr)

12 PM Equestrian: Games competition begins (2 hrs)

12:30 PM Children/Teen: Grand Thing lunch at Bjorgvinn camp
with Finnr Skeggason (1 hr)

  1 PM A &
S: Wood carving class at Stromgard baronial pavilion (2
hrs)

  1 PM A &
S: Butter-making class at exhibit hall (1 hr)

  1:30 PM
Children/Teen: Whip cord braid class at Bairnhalla (1
hr)

 

2 PM Games: Caber Toss competition (2 hrs)

  2 PM

Archery: Range open for practice with a marshal present (1
hr)

  2 PM
Equestrian: Novice Heavy Fighter Tourney (1 hr)

  2 PM Children: Active Games
(2 hrs)

  3 PM A &
S: Hands-on Viking cooking class at Hrafnir’s camp (2
hrs)

  3 PM Archery:
Baronial Championship competition (3 hrs)

  3:30 PM Tiernan’s
Domination Tourney (2 hrs)

  3 PM
Equestrian: Open riding practice. (2 hrs)

  4 PM Feast set-up begins
(Feast Hall closed to everyone else until 5 PM)

  4 PM Teen: Dance class at
Bairnhalla (1 hr)

  5 PM Siege
Cooking ends take entries to Feast Hall for judging

  6 PM Potluck
Feast begins in exhibit hall

  6 PM Gate
“officially” closes but if you come late call me.
No one is turned away.

  7 PM Grand
Thing begins in exhibit hall (45 mins)

  8 PM Teen:
Medieval (Sadie Hawkins style) Ball at Bairnhalla (3-4
hrs)

  9 PM Bardic
Circle at BBQ fire pit (2-3hrs)

10 PM Reginleif’s Norse Trade Blanket at Stromgard
Baronial Pavilion (2-3 hrs)

 

Sunday: 
 

9 AM Gate “officially” opens

9 AM A & S: Lund stool making class at Baronial pavilion
(4 hrs)

 9 AM A & S:
Beginning nalbinding class at exhibit hall (2-3 hrs)

10 AM Thrown Weapons: knives, axes, and spears at Archery
range (2 hrs)

10 AM Equestrian: Open riding practice and qualifications (2
hrs)

10 AM Children/Teen: Embroidery class (1 hr)

10:30 AM Armor inspection begins

11 AM Monastery Raid (3 hrs)

11 AM Children/Teen: Wool pouch-making class (1 hr)

12 PM Children’s Equestrian
(a parent must be present)
(1 hr)

  1 PM A &
S: Beginning drop spindle at Stromgard pavilion (1 hr)

  1 PM
Equestrian: Archery demo (1 hr)

  2 PM A &
S: Viking seams and construction at Stromgard pavilion (2
hrs)

  2 PM
Equestrian: Live steel demo (1 hr)

  2 PM Children:
Active games (2 hrs)

  2 PM

Archery: Range open for youth practice (a parent must be
present) (1 hr)

  3 PM Archery:
Open range (2 hrs) 

  3 PM Games:
Footschlager race (2 hrs)

  3 PM
Equestrian: Open riding practice (3 hrs)

 

3 PM Memorial Axe tournament (3 hrs)

  6 PM Games:
Baron Raul’s “Cut the braid contest” (Adult
only) (1 hr)

  7 PM Baronial
/ Prize Court

  8 PM Teen:
Social (goodbye party) at Bairnhalla (3 hrs)

  9 PM Bardic
Circle at Baronial Pavilion (2-3 hrs)

 

Monday:               

10 AM Equestrian: Open riding practice (2 hrs)

11 AM Archery: Dismantle
the backdrop clean area (1 hr)

12 PM Teen: Clean-up and close down the Bairnhalla (1
hr)

12 PM Equestrian: Tear
down and packing up (1 hr)

  1 PM Site
closes and clean-up begins (2 hrs)

  3 PM Clean-up
complete

 

Grand Thing IV-Arts and Sciences Class List

There will be no preregistration for any classes.
Registration will be first-come first-served at class time.
Fees (in any) must be paid directly to each instructor at the
time of the class.

 

Making the “Lund”
Stool
The
lund stool is a type of three legged stool, a kind of
furniture used by all medieval cultures during the SCA time
frame, before the SCA time frame and indeed continues to be
used to this day!
In the class I will teach you a simple technique to make the
wedge tennon joints used in the Lund Stool. Each student will
then make their very own replica stool.
Instructor: Master
Gordon Redthorn

Class length:
4 hrs.
Max # of
students: 8 students (min. age is 14, min. number of
students is 1)
Cost:
$10
Materials to
bring: It would be nice if Students could bring a
regular 3 blade pocket knife, or a pocket knife that has a
smooth, not serrated blade, or a standard straight blade
carving/whittling blade, and a pencil. Groucho glasses, three
fingered “toon” gloves, and clown shoes are
optional.

Making a Wooden
Chain
Wooden chains are a part of “whittling” or
“folk carving” the process of making such an item
will provide the student with the requisite skills to make
kitchen tools such as wooden spoons, or silly things like
balls in boxes, whistles, and so forth. At the end of the
class the student will have the beginnings of a wooden chain
and the ability to complete it if they choose.
Instructor: Master
Gordon Redthorn

Class length:
2 hrs.
Max # of
students: 4 students (min. age is 14, min. number of
students is 1)
Cost:
$2
Materials to
bring: It would be nice if Students could bring a
regular 3 blade pocket knife, or a pocket knife that has a
smooth, not serrated blade, or a standard straight blade
carving/whittling blade and a pencil. Stilts can be worn
during this class, though are not recommended.

 

Beginning Drop Spindle
Learn
the basics of handspinning using a top-whorl drop spindle.
Class will cover fiber selection and preparation and hands-on
spinning. We’ll also cover what to do with that yarn once
you’ve spun it: how to finish and makes skeins and/or
center-pull balls.
Instructor: Meistara
Kolfinna Aradottir
Class
length: 1 hr. (I’ll stay later if students would
like further assistance)
Materials to
bring: Wool fiber and spindles will be provided;
bring your own spindle if you prefer
Fee:
free, spindle for sale for $10 if you’d like to keep it
Max # of
students: no limit

 

Choosing Appropriate Fabrics and Colors for Recreating Viking
Age Clothing
This
class will give you information and tools to assist in
choosing appropriate fabrics and colors for the clothing of
the Viking Age. Attendees will receive swatches demonstrating
some good fabric choices, as well as a color card showing
natural dyes on wool to help in appropriate color
choices.
Instructor: Duchess
Asa Starradottir, OL

Class length:
1 hr.

Materials to bring:
None

Fee:
None

Max # of students:
10

 

Beginning Nalebinding

Nalebinding is a technique that was used during the Viking
Age to make items such as mittens, hats, and socks. This is a
hands-on class covering the Mammen stitch and includes a
brief historical background and resources. Due to the
complexity of this craft and the need for the participants
and instructor to focus on the subject matter, no observers
may “audit” the class.

Instructor:
HL Helga Lomr

Class length:
2-3 hrs.

Fee:
None. All supplies provided by instructor

Max # of students:
5

 

Viking Age Seams: Construction and Finishing

A hands class on practical ways to construct and attractively
finish your seams.

Instructor:
Hanim Gulenay, OL

Class length:
2 hrs.

Fee:
None. Sample packet provided by instructor.

Max # of students:
6

 

Hands-on Viking Cooking
Come
and get some experience cooking over the fire using the tools
and ingredients that would have been available to the
Vikings.  We’ll make bread, and a variety of meat and
vegetable dishes over the fire using period equipment and
techniques.
Instructor:

Ref Fiachson (fka Hrafnir), OL
Length:

1-2 hrs.
Fee:

$3 to cover the cost of food
Max
# of students:
10

 

Children Classes        
Instructor                  
Time                           
Max Students

Wool Hats                  
Arwen                         
 Sat 11-12:30               
10
Whip Cord Braid        
Isolde /Arwen            
Sat 1:30-2:30              
10
Dance                         
Arwen                          
Sat 4-5                        
20
Wool pouches            
Arwen                         
Sun 11-12                   
10
Embroidery                
Arwen                         
Sun 10-11                   
10
Charter Painting        
Domnhall/ Eleanor     Sat 10-4
                     
10
Charter painting will occur in the Feast Hall.  Dance
will occur in Bairnhalla (4H building) area.  The other
classes will occur in the Pied Piper Area located between the
fighting Eric and barns.  If it is raining the Pied
Piper will move into Bairnhalla

 

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