ST. GEORGE — From spectating an armed combat group’s battle to participating in a quest for the Holy Grail, Hildale is set to have its very first Medieval Days Renaissance Faire in a few weeks.
“The real reason I’m doing this event is because I like doing events and things for the community,” said Alec Cox, founder of the Medieval Days Renaissance Faire in Hildale. “I feel like I didn’t get to go to enough events when I was younger. I enjoy making people happy.”
Cox, the renaissance-loving man behind the event, said he’s put on many events, such as dances, barbecues and even a country fair. This year, he turned his love for events into an official business, ABC and Co. Events. With a love for strategy games, knights, battles and armies, he has attended many medieval festivals and wanted to bring the event home.
“I started talking about the idea of the event with family, and they had this deer in the headlights look, knowing how I am with events,” he said. “I just jumped off the deep end.”
With a full schedule of events, this two-day Renaissance fair will feature fun for all ages, along with a performance by the Armored Combat Worldwide Salt Lake City Crusaders, who Cox said are part of the nationwide league of armored sword fighters.
This MMA-style sport includes combatants who wear real medieval armor and use real medieval weapons to defeat opponents in individual or team battles. All armor and weapons must be accurate to historical records of various countries around the world between the years 1200- 1599 CE.
The Knights of Mayhem, a group of professional jousters will perform as the main attraction, led by Captain Charlie “Sir Charles” Mason Andrews. Andrews is a 12-time reigning World Champion in Heavy Armor Full Contact Jousting and also has a show on the National Geographic Channel.
“They fight with steel weapons and they beat the heck out of each other,” Cox said about the Nights of Mayhem. “They want me to have an EMT there for them in case anything happens. They slam each other and throw each other on the ground. The only rule is no stabbing, and that’s it.”
The Adrian Empire, a nonprofit organization, will be at the event allowing attendees the chance to practice archery with a longbow and medieval crossbow. Phat Axe also will be in attendance with their axe-throwing trailer.
Foam swords and shields will be available for “larp-ing” (live action role playing), with a four-way tournament featuring three group age group entries – ages 6-8, 9-12 and 13 and older. There also will be a book signing with T.R. Stirling, author of “Incarnum,” a story of adventure, romance, dragons and magic, along with a drawing to win a signed copy of the book.
No medieval experience is complete without a quest for the greatest treasures, and Cox said the Holy Grail Quest will be fun for attendees of all ages. In the quest, participants are sent by a king to complete a quest for the Holy Grail. The quest will include 20 different characters such as Robinhood, Sheriff Nottingham, Draco the dragon, Merlin the wizard, the Frenchman and Black Night from Monty Python and more.
Participants will interact with the characters until they gain seven tokens, which are considered “tokens of good deeds.” Friar Tuck will then give participants the Holy Grail, which is returned to the king. Each person will be entered into a drawing and have the chance to try and pull the sword out of the stone.
Cox said he hand built a setup for the sword in the stone. When the contraption is turned on, the arm pinches the sword tight, making it impossible to remove. Remotely controlled, the winner of the drawing will be able to pull the sword out with ease and showcase victory.
The event stage will feature live music and stand-up comedians, along with David Vasquez, who will perform sorcery and magic three times a day. A variety of food trucks will be on location offering barbecue, burgers, mini donuts, Italian ice and more.
A variety of workshops will take place at the event, including a local woodworking company that will cut out sword handles, blades, hilts and shields, allowing kids to learn the sword assembly and put it together themselves. Blacksmith Adventures from Kanab will teach attendees how to heat nail spikes and smith them into a sword.
Children’s activities include medieval-themed bouncy house inflatables, a wipeout pad, a rock climbing pillar and booth games such as a ring toss and catapults. Prize drawings will include an Ace Hardware $200 gift card, a guitar from Dixie Guitar King, a shotgun, metal art, keepsake boxes, a Traeger smoker grill and more.
All vendors, volunteers and entertainers will dress up to match the Medieval Days Renaissance theme and Cox said he will dress up as William Wallace from Braveheart. Attendees are encouraged but not required to dress up for the event. Costumes will be available for purchase.
Give the entire family the medieval experience, live as royalty, watch knights clash with swords and steel and enjoy feats of prowess from horseback at the Medieval Days Renaissance Fair held Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 at Maxwell Canyon in Hildale. Visit the Medival Days Renaissance Faire on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Cox said he plans to make the Hildale Medieval Days Renaissance Faire a yearly event and is looking for additional sponsors. They have partnered with Short Creek Festivities, which is a presenting sponsor of the event. As a registered nonprofit, all sponsorships and donations to the Hildale Medieval Days are tax-deductible.
To donate, click here. For sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected].
Event details
- What: Medieval Days Renaissance Faire
- When: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Where: Maxwell Canyon, 1750 Maxwell Canyon Parkway, Hildale
- Admission: free
- For more information, visit their website or event page
Photo Gallery
A flyer for the upcoming Medieval Days Renaissance Faire shows a variety of activities and information | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
Alec Cox, founder of the Medieval Days Renaissance Faire in Hildale, smiles for the camera, St. George, Utah, September 6, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A member of The Knights of Mayhem performs at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Armored Combat Worldwide Salt lake City Crusaders joust at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
Attendees pose at a renaissance fair, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
An attendee poses at a renaissance fair, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
A flyer for the upcoming Medieval Days Renaissance Faire is shown | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Knights of Mayhem perform at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Knights of Mayhem perform at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
The Knights of Mayhem perform at an event, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Alec Cox, St. George News
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