Huntsman’s Harvest 2024
October 5th, 2024
Germania Park Campground, 4221 Trinity Church Rd, Binbrook, ON, L0R 1C0
Entry
The Barony of Ben Dunfirth presents Huntsman’s Harvest at the Germania Park Campground, 4221 Trinity Church Rd, Binbrook, ON, L0R 1C0
You must check in with the Gatekeeper when you arrive. You will also be required to sign a waiver if you are attending as a non-member. Pre-registration is not required.
Attending with Children
SCA events are open to people of all ages, but parents of children will need to sign a waiver at the Event Gate for their children.
However if you are bringing a child for whom you are not the parent, or legal guardian, you will need to bring:
- A complete signed minor waiver or signed blue card
- A complete signed minor medical waiver (2 copies)
Please see Ealdormere’s Attending with Children page for more details.
New to the SCA?
Please see our FAQ section below for more information on what to expect.
Entry Fees
Adult
- $25 for non-members
Youth (under 18)
- Free for non-members
Adult Camping
- $55 for non-members
Adult Camping
- $55 for non-members
Weekend Camping
- $50 for non-members
Day Trip (any single day)
- $40 for non-members
Youth (under 18)
- Free for non-members
*Cheques must be made out to “SCA – Ben Dunfirth”
Location
Germania Park Campground
4221 Trinity Church Rd, Binbrook, ON L0R 1C0
Gate Hours
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Please note: If there is no attendant at Troll, please seek out an Event Steward or Head of Gate (TBD) to assist you with checking in.
Lunch & Feast
Lunch
Lunch tickets may be purchased for $7 per person at the Gate. All lunches come with a choice of one entrée and sides while quantities last. Drinks are free/by donation.
Entrée:
Beef Barley Stew
Beef, Pot barley, Beef broth, Onions, Celery, Carrots, Mushrooms, Gluten-free Soy sauce, Garlic, Vegetable/Canola oil, Salt, Black pepper, Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaves
Beef Stew (gluten free)
Beef, Beef broth, Onions, Celery, Carrots, Mushrooms, Gluten-free Soy sauce, Garlic, Vegetable/Canola oil, Salt, Black pepper, Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaves
Lentil Soup (vegan)
Onions, Garlic, Celery, Carrots, Canned tomatoes, Lentils, Spinach, Lemon juice, Vegetable broth, Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Salt, Pepper
Sides:
Selection of buns (gluten-free crackers available on request), hard-boiled eggs, fresh-cut vegetables, seasonal fruit, and Skor brownies.
Drinks:
Coffee, hot chocolate, or pop
Feast
Feast will be the traditional Huntsman’s Harvest’s potluck. Please bring your favourite potluck dish to share.
If you are bringing a crock pot, please bring an extension cord or a power cord. It may not be needed, but better too many than too few.
IMPORTANT: Please make sure you include a clearly marked card with ALL ingredients in your dish, especially any allergens.
Full Schedule
Please note: All activities are currently pending and are subject to change without notice.
10:00 AM – Event gate opens
Their Majesties’ Discretion – Opening Court
10:00 AM – Thrown Weapons | Range opens
10:00 AM – Archery| Range opens/Inspections Begin
[TBD] – Order of the Crucible Meeting
[TBD] – Order of the Laurel Meeting
[TBD] – Armoured | Authorizations
[TBD] – Rapier | Authorizations
[TBD] – All Martial | Their Royal Majesties’ Champion Tournament
[TBD] – All Martial | Baronial Champion Tournament
12:00 PM – Lunch Table Opens
1:00 PM – Armoured | Poker Card Tournament
2:00 PM – Armoured | Hungry Barbarian Tournament
3:00 PM – Brewer’s Competition at Town Hall Hall
4:00 PM – Preserves Competition at Town Hall
Their Majesties’ Discretion – Evening Court
After Evening Court – Potluck Feast
10:00 PM – Event gate closes
*Please see below sections for more details on specific events.
Major Events
Please note: All activities are currently pending and are subject to change without notice.
10:00 AM – Event gate opens
TBD – Order of The Crucible Meeting
Their Majesties, King Crispin and Queen Anne will meet with Their Order of the Crucible at Huntsman’s Harvest.
TBD – Order of the Laurel Meeting
Their Majesties King Crispin and Queen Anne will meet with Their Order of the Laurel at Huntsman’s Harvest.
Their Majesties Discretion – Evening Court
Their Majesties will hold an Evening Court, alongside Their Excellencies of Ben Dunfirth to address the populace.
Immediately after Court – Potluck Feast
Please see above for more information about the potluck feast.
10:00 PM – Event gate closes
Arts & Science
Activities
Activities
Please note: All activities are currently pending and are subject to change without notice.
3:00 PM – Brewer’s Competition (Town Hall)
Brewers and Tasters alike are invited to participate* in Ben Dunfirth’s annual Brewer’s Tasting Contest. Bring your cordials, wines, beers, and spirits!
Brewers are asked to please submit only one beverage. More information will be available closer to the event date.
(*Must be 19+ to participate)
4:00 PM – Preserves Competition (Town Hall)
Bring out your jams!
Bring your best jams, jelly, compotes, and ferments for the the Preserves Competition at Huntsman’s. More information will be available closer to the event date.
Armoured & Rapier
Activities
Activities
Please note: All activities are currently pending and are subject to change without notice.
TBD – All Martial | Their Royal Majesties’ Champion Tournament
This Tournament will run for all Martial Activities: Armoured Combat, Rapier Combat, Thrown Weapons, and Archery. The tournament winners will be named as TRM’s Kingdom Champion for the duration of Their Majesties’ reign.
More information coming soon.
TBD – All Martial | Baronial Champion Tournament
This Tournament will run for all Martial Activities: Armoured Combat, Rapier Combat, Thrown Weapons, and Archery. It will occur at the respective Marshal’s discretion if not listed below and will be announced by the Herald during the event.
Click here for more information.
TBD – Rapier | Authorizations
Rapier fighters who are not yet authorized may undergo the authorization process by fighting another opponent under the marshal’s instruction and review.
TBD – Armoured Combat | Authorizations
Armoured fighters who are not yet authorized may undergo the authorization process by fighting another opponent under the marshal’s instruction and review.
1:00 PM – Armoured Combat | Poker Card Tournament
Fighters compete in a bearpit-style tournament. Every win against your opponent gets you a playing card. The combatant with the best poker hand at the end of the tournament is named the champion.
2:00 PM – Armoured | Hungry Barbarian Tournament
Have you ever wanted to hit your friends with a Dane axe, Mjolnir, and a bar stool all within an hour? The Hungry Barbarian Tournament has you covered. Bring your weird and wonderful weapon creations (and your full gauntlets) and get ready to do battle with a bar stool.
TBD – Rapier | Coin Tournament
Stab your friends to get coins! The person with the most coins at the end of the tournament wins.
11:00 AM – Rapier | Poker Card Tournament
Every win against your opponent gets you a playing card. The combatant with the best poker hand at the end of the tournament is named the winner.
Sunday:
No planned activities
Archery & Thrown Weapons
Activities
Activities
Please note: All activities are currently pending and are subject to change without notice.
All range activities are weather and marshal dependent.
TBD – All Martial | Their Royal Majesties’ Champion Tournament
This Tournament will run for all Martial Activities: Armoured Combat, Rapier Combat, Thrown Weapons, and Archery. The tournament winners will be named as TRM’s Kingdom Champion for the duration of Their Majesties’ reign.
More information coming soon.
TBD – All Martial | Baronial Champion Tournament
This Tournament will run for all Martial Activities: Armoured Combat, Rapier Combat, Thrown Weapons, and Archery. It will occur at the respective Marshal’s discretion if not listed below and will be announced by the Herald during the event.
10:00 AM – Archery | Range opens/Inspections Begin
Archery range opens for free shoot. Equipment must be inspected by the marshal before archers may shoot with it.
Loaner bows and arrows are available. Please see marshal at the archery range to inquire.
10:00 AM – Thrown Weapons | Range opens
Thrown weapons range opens for free throw. Equipment must be inspected by the marshal before participants start throwing.
MIT’s are encouraged to come and spend time helping run the range.
TBD – Thrown Weapons | Yeoman of the Wolf Throw
The Yeomen of the Wolf is a martial company within the Kingdom of Ealdormere, open to anyone who participates in ranged weapons activities.
Its mandate is to inspire participation in all types of ranged weapons activities; and to expand the frequency and variety of ranged weapons events and tournament types throughout the Kingdom.
See the Yeoman of the Wolf Ealdormere Wiki page for more information.
1:30 PM – Archery | Yeoman of the Wolf Shoot
See the Yeoman of the Wolf Ealdormere Wiki page for more information on Yeoman of the Wolf.
Baronial Championship Tournament
Greetings to the good gentles of Ben Dunfirth!
Your Baron and Baroness are searching for their Baronial Champions in the martial fields of heavy weapons, fencing, archery and thrown weapons! These honours will be bestowed upon those worthies who compete and triumph in our Baronial Championship tournaments occurring at Huntsman’s Harvest this coming Saturday! So come one, come all to our Championship tournament, held at each of the fields of honour at a time determined by the Marshals.
This honour will last for a year, have very few public duties involved (outside of bragging rights), and will include a fetching sash to wear at our evening Court at Huntsman’s, our Murder Melee event, and any other events Ben Dunfirth hosts in the year. Qualifications for consideration: you must play for the Barony of Ben Dunfirth, and be of legal age to participate in the martial activity/ies chosen. Best of luck to you all, and we look forward to next weekend’s event!
-Their Excellencies Jørgen and Meredyth, Baronials of Ben Dunfirth
FAQ
Can I bring personal presences?
Yes! Everyone is welcome to bring their sunshade, chairs, picnic blanket, etc. However please do not bring your tent or your flint & steel. We’ll get in trouble if we start a fire.
Do I have to pre-register?
No pre-registration is required. All you need to bring is your entry fee, membership card (if applicable) and your finest self!
Do we have both the hall and the pavilion?
Yes! Both halls will be available. The Potluck Feast will be taking place in Town Hall (the main building) this year.
Is this a LARP?
No. We are a historical anachronist group devoted to the research and recreation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat, culture, etc. We maintain our own political structure through a system of rank, awards, positions, and honours to reward participants’ accomplishments and service.
SCA members generally also pick a historic name to go by and often craft an entire “persona” for themselves focused on a particular time and place. Some dedicated individuals may attempt to act as their persona would. However, while SCA events may contain aspects of roleplaying, as we embrace the historical characters that we portray, our events do not contain any live-action roleplaying in the same sense that a LARP would.
While the SCA may also contain some aspects of fantasy, we are a historically-focused group and we encourage playing within the realm of historical anachronism (See: What is the SCA? for more information).
Is this a Ren Faire?
No. The Society for Creative Anachronism differs quite a bit from a Ren Faire.
Renaissance Festivals are generally an interactive event that recreates a Renaissance or Medieval village or setting. They usually feature actors and performers who maintain a character throughout and aim to entertain attendees. Dressing up in garb is not required for Ren Faire attendees.
At a Ren Faire, attendees come to watch, whereas SCA events are about active participation. We are devoted to the research and recreation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat, culture, etc., and our events focus on participating in these activities (See: What is the SCA? for more information).
As someone who may be newly interested in the SCA, you are, however, not required to participate in any ongoing activities and we welcome and encourage watching and asking questions!
The SCA’s only requirement while attending an event is a “reasonable attempt” at garb, as to not disturb the immersion of attendees.
Not sure what to wear? Not a problem! Our events have what we refer to as Gold Key, otherwise known as our loaner garb. Please see below for more info!
I don’t have any garb! What do I do?
Not a problem! If you don’t have enough garb then we will happily clothe you. We recommend that you bring a belt and a pair of non-denim pants, but if you have neither, denim pants are fine and we can steal someone else’s belt when they’re not looking.
Do I need a membership to attend?
No. You are not required to buy a membership; membership is completely optional.
We recommend considering a membership if/when you decide to attend events on a regular basis, as a membership allows you to pay a lower entry fee.
Are there accessibility accommodations available?
Yes! Our events aim to be friendly to all attendees, including those who require accommodations.
Are your events LGBTQIA2S+ friendly?
Extremely! Ealdormere is proud to host a very diverse crowd, and we’re happy to welcome anyone and everyone without prejudice. The Barony of Ben Dunfirth even flies our very own baronial pride flag!
I have more questions. Who should I contact?
Feel free to contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page. We’d be happy to provide more information and answer any questions you may have!