Hear ye, hear ye! The annual 2019 Medieval Market comes to ye olde lakecity on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 with all the fair vendors thoust have come to expect!
With craft fair season upon us, Lake City Secondary School’s Williams Lake Campus once more invites the entire community out to lighten their pockets at the famous and ever-popular Medieval Market. A longtime staple now of the lakecity’s craft fair scene, this year the king shall return once more with more new vendors jam packed into the halls of the high school.
This year it’s being organized by counsellors Kim Nowotny and Jennifer Ives who have both been involved with the market for several years now and organize it along with a committee of teachers. Each year, Nowotny said that she and the other teachers are always looking for ways to involve more students in the planning, setting up and hosting process of the event. Ives observed that one of the best parts of organizing this market is the chance to work with the students and getting the community involved with the school.
“I just love the vibe of the market, I love what it feels like there. The kids being showcased, our school being showcased and then all of the handmade quality wares, they’re incredible and just how it brings the community together,” Nowotny said. “I think we’re all really proud of what this little event has become in our community and it’s a ton of work but it’s worth it.”
When they first started the market years ago she said they had around 22 vendors while this year Nowotny confirmed they are at 105 separate vendors and have had to turn some people away. Nowotny said she feels very fortunate they’ve got to a size where they don’t need to seek out vendors and can instead rely on them to come to her and the other organizers.
That being said, it’s still a big undertaking to organize, especially when it comes to getting students involved, Nowotny said. Both Nowotny and Ives feel, however, they have a good team at LCSS to help them find volunteers and get everything ready for the big weekend.
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With 105 vendors lined up to come, narrowing them down is a daunting task but Nowotny said they are excited to see a mix of new vendors and old vendors coming out. These new vendors include The Brass Hatter out of Quesnel who makes steampunk-inspired hats, Steidle Woodworking’s great wood carvings, cutting boards and the like, the Lakecity Secondary Graphic Design Lab will be selling vinyl decals and buttons designed by students for the first time, a clothing fashion company called Denjay Designs founded by an LCSS graduate and Birch Bark Bakery selling sourdough bread. Old favourites will also be returning, the two said, including the likes of Black Sheep Vegan Cheeze who sold out last year.
Vendors are always encouraged to dress up, Nowotny said, in a medieval-themed outfit so they can take part in the costume and booth theme contests throughout the weekend. The winner of these competitions will receive 100 Medieval bucks to spend as they see fit at the fair on Sunday. A jester known as The Cosmic Threader will be enhancing the medieval feel with juggling, tarot card reading and other antics.
Musical entertainment this year will be provided by groups like Thompson Brothers, the Williams Lake Community Band, the LCSS High School Band, the Cariboo Men’s Choir and lots of student acts. All students, Nowotny added, who take part in the fair be it performing live music, helping with set up or running concession will earn credit for school classes and clubs.
“The vendors and the public always give us feedback on how great the student workers are and that’s so important because teenagers aren’t always seen in the most positive light in the community,” Nowotny said. It’s kind of a win-win because we get all this labour and they get this work experience and exposure to people who make a living creating things.”
“I think it adds to the cultural volunteerism and community involvement we want our kids to see us modelling it and then following through,” Ives added.
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After setup on the night of Friday, Nov. 22 the Medieval Market takes place Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission for the entire weekend is $5 or $3 for just Sunday with children 12 and under allowed in for free. There are also 105 door prizes available to be won, one from each vendor, and a hearty concession with excellent food, Nowotny said.
The funds raised will go towards funding various programs and causes within the school and the district, paying the students who worked the weekend and supporting students in need, Nowotny and Ives confirmed.
They encourage prospective customers and attendees to come to the Medieval Market in concert with all the other great craft fairs happening that same weekend. Nowotny also said that Sunday tends to be the quieter and less crowded of the days.
Medieval Market Performance Schedule
SATURDAY
MAIN STAGE: Laura Eilers- 10 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Julia Zirnhelt- 10:15 a.m.
WANDERING: Harry Jennings & Sharon Hoffman
MAIN STAGE: Sacred Heart Children’s Choir- 10:30 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Juantet- 10:45 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: The Thompson Brothers- 11 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Ryder Rochefort & Luca Calabrese-11:15 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Dallas Moe- 11:45 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: Cariboo Mens Choir- 12 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Lauryn Marklinger- 12:15 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Carmen Mutschele and Dena Baumann- 12:30 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Cy Thompson- 12:45 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Quintet Plus- 1 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Eloise Hobi- 1:15 p.m.
WANDERING: Jan & Friends- 1:30 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Interstellar Jays- 1:30 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Georgia DiMarco and Mary Claire Snowball- 1:45 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Caitlin Khong- 2:15 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Rowan Dolighan- 2:30 p.m.
GYM STAGE: M Lund- 2:45 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Youth Fiddlers- 3 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Rowan Dolighan- 3:15 p.m.
SUNDAY
MAIN STAGE: Brandon Hoffman & Dena Baumann- 10 a.m.
WANDERING: Harry Jennings & Sharon Hoffman- 10:15 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: Julia Ziegler, Carmen Davis, Kim Davis- 10:30 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Amber Gregg- 10:45 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: Carmen Mutschele, Shannon Zirnhelt, and Dena Baumann- 11 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Zeah & David Rusch- 11:15 a.m.
WANDERING: Vanessa Fer- 11:30 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: Abby Roy and Mackenna Lecomte- 11:30 a.m.
GYM STAGE: Joanne Kimmell- 11:45 a.m.
MAIN STAGE: WL Community Band- 12:15 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Ethan Schultz -Anderson- 12:15 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Julia Ziegler, Carmen Davis, Kim Davis- 12:45 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Quintet Plus- 1 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Shannon Zirnhelt, Susan Lovejoy, Tanja Iwan- 1:15 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: LCSS Grade 9 Band- 1:30 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Amelia Burrill and Cleary Manning- 1:45 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: LCSS Grade 10 Band- 2:10 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Mason Carr-Humphries and Ryder Rochefort- 2:15 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Border Band and Uker Friendly- 2:45 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Abby Roy & Mackenna Lecomte- 2:45 p.m.
MAIN STAGE: Market Jam- 3:30 p.m.
GYM STAGE: Jan & Friends- 3:30 p.m.
patrick.davies@wltribune.com
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