Local Events & Practices
There are a number of practices, meetings and events that take place within minutes of UCSC and more within about an hour's drive.
SCA events within an hour or two's journey during Winter Quarter 2012:
January 6-8 - Twelfth Night Coronation - Kingdom of the West (Concord Hilton, Concord, CA) Come see the coronation of our new king and queen, as well as lots more: A&S Displays & Competitions, a Play by the Golden Stag Players, Kingdom Rapier Championship, Middle Eastern Kasbah, the Duchesses' Ball, and activities, Shopping, and Portraits by CL!X. There will be a Bardic Revel at the upcoming West Kingdom 12th Night. Join us Friday evening beginning around 9 PM (after dinner!) for singing, poetry ... until around 11:30 PM. The Bardic Revel will start in the Plaza Court Lounge but may move either to the Fountain Courtyard (weather permitting) or to the nether end of Golden Gate Ballroom C and provide entertainment to those valiant souls setting up for the Midnight Court up front! Saturday, After Court For Our 20th Anniversary Performance, The Golden Stag Players present "The Alexandrian Tapestries", A Commedia dell’Arte Play. Be prepared for laughter, shenanigans, more laughter, and … even more laughter! (This play is rated R for Raunchy Sexual Language).
January 21 - Hawks Haven Grand Archery Tournament - Canton of Hawk's Haven (Machado School, Morgan Hill, CA) The Canton of Hawks Haven summons and invites all archers and crossbowmen to our annual Medieval Archery Tournament! Test your skills against the best archers of the West Kingdom. Honor, infamy and prizes await those who are the top shot. Those who wish to vie for that coveted honor of “The Hood” of Darkwood may also compete. We also invite the legendary chefs and bakers of the West Kingdom to come and compete in A Taste of Hawks Haven: The Grand Cullinary Competition. Prepare your most delicious period dish and bring it for the populous to taste and vote on. Glory and prizes await the one who can create the most epic and delicious dish! Allez Cuisine!
January 28 - Crosston Dance Ball - Shire of Crosston (Shoup Park Garden House, Los Altos, CA)
A day of dance instruction led by our fabulous dance instructors will be followed by a potluck feast, culminating in a full evening of dance to live music on period instruments. (Dances are often "called" during the ball, so it's not required that you attend the classes beforehand). You can also learn more about dance at Wednesday dance practice on in Crosston. Contact the autocrats for more information about dance practice or ask one of us about the possibility of a repeat of dance practice on campus.
February 4 - West Kingdom War Collegium - Kingdom of the West (Penitencia Creek Park, San Jose, CA)
Repair your armor, make ready your weapons and prepare for the war season with this year's "old school" War Collegium. Marshal-in-Charge, Duke Fabian is constructing a series of exercises and scenarios that will make ready the Western Army for another glorious season of war. The event is free and a simple lunch will be available from the soup kitchen so you won't need to leave site to forage.
February 11 - Montaigne du Roi Prize Tourney - Canton of Montaigne du Roi (Laguna Grande Park, Seaside, CA) The tradition continues with MdR's Prize Tourney! There will be prizes (including two wool /cashmere-blend cloaks, one for heavy and one for rapier, and a gaming table), fellowship and two soups: borscht with meat and vegetarian chickpea. So bring your armor, your appetite, and a bowl! Both heavy combat and rapier fighting will be celebrated. The event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
March 3 - Noble Diversions - Shire of Cloondara with the Barony of Westermark (location TBA - check their website)
By day, Nobles must uphold their duties and help uphold the land. By night, they seek amusements and merriment. Come join us as we spend an evening cavorting with friends, lightening our purses, and playing the games of the nobility. We will have a variety of games that you can play and people to show you how. We will also be holding a silent auction so that you may take your favorite game home!
March 10 - 25th Anniversary White Shield Tournament and Feast - Barony of Darkwood (Monterey County Sheriff's Posse Grounds, Sunnyvale, CA) For twenty-five years the White Shield Tournament has taken place, and many great fighters have fought and been victorious on its tournament field. It is time to join us in celebrating this joyous occasion as we mark a quarter century of excellence. Gather with us to witness the next champions of Darkwood. Test your skill against the best fighters of the Kingdom, both heavy and rapier. Hear the tales of tournaments past as we hold the Bard of the Oaks Tournament. The Darkwood Silent Auction also returns to this event this year. After you have had your fill of combat, the cooks of Darkwood wish you to stay and feast with us.
March 23-25 - March Crown Tournament - Kingdom of the West (location TBA)
Come see the grand tournament of heavy fighters as they fight for the right to crown their consort with roses and become with her (or him) the heirs to the Crowns of the West.
March 27- April 2 - Estrella War - This NOT LOCAL but falls on SPRING BREAK- The Kingdom of Atenveldt is pleased to announce that next year's Estrella War will be held at a new site (Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ). This is one of the handful of large wars every year that is within a reasonable driving distance of the West Kingdom. The large wars tend to have something for everyone: classes on a wide variety of topics and crafts, competitions, performances, lots of merchants, and of course fighting galore!
SCA events within an hour or two's journey during Winter Quarter 2012:
January 6-8 - Twelfth Night Coronation - Kingdom of the West (Concord Hilton, Concord, CA) Come see the coronation of our new king and queen, as well as lots more: A&S Displays & Competitions, a Play by the Golden Stag Players, Kingdom Rapier Championship, Middle Eastern Kasbah, the Duchesses' Ball, and activities, Shopping, and Portraits by CL!X. There will be a Bardic Revel at the upcoming West Kingdom 12th Night. Join us Friday evening beginning around 9 PM (after dinner!) for singing, poetry ... until around 11:30 PM. The Bardic Revel will start in the Plaza Court Lounge but may move either to the Fountain Courtyard (weather permitting) or to the nether end of Golden Gate Ballroom C and provide entertainment to those valiant souls setting up for the Midnight Court up front! Saturday, After Court For Our 20th Anniversary Performance, The Golden Stag Players present "The Alexandrian Tapestries", A Commedia dell’Arte Play. Be prepared for laughter, shenanigans, more laughter, and … even more laughter! (This play is rated R for Raunchy Sexual Language).
January 21 - Hawks Haven Grand Archery Tournament - Canton of Hawk's Haven (Machado School, Morgan Hill, CA) The Canton of Hawks Haven summons and invites all archers and crossbowmen to our annual Medieval Archery Tournament! Test your skills against the best archers of the West Kingdom. Honor, infamy and prizes await those who are the top shot. Those who wish to vie for that coveted honor of “The Hood” of Darkwood may also compete. We also invite the legendary chefs and bakers of the West Kingdom to come and compete in A Taste of Hawks Haven: The Grand Cullinary Competition. Prepare your most delicious period dish and bring it for the populous to taste and vote on. Glory and prizes await the one who can create the most epic and delicious dish! Allez Cuisine!
January 28 - Crosston Dance Ball - Shire of Crosston (Shoup Park Garden House, Los Altos, CA)
A day of dance instruction led by our fabulous dance instructors will be followed by a potluck feast, culminating in a full evening of dance to live music on period instruments. (Dances are often "called" during the ball, so it's not required that you attend the classes beforehand). You can also learn more about dance at Wednesday dance practice on in Crosston. Contact the autocrats for more information about dance practice or ask one of us about the possibility of a repeat of dance practice on campus.
February 4 - West Kingdom War Collegium - Kingdom of the West (Penitencia Creek Park, San Jose, CA)
Repair your armor, make ready your weapons and prepare for the war season with this year's "old school" War Collegium. Marshal-in-Charge, Duke Fabian is constructing a series of exercises and scenarios that will make ready the Western Army for another glorious season of war. The event is free and a simple lunch will be available from the soup kitchen so you won't need to leave site to forage.
February 11 - Montaigne du Roi Prize Tourney - Canton of Montaigne du Roi (Laguna Grande Park, Seaside, CA) The tradition continues with MdR's Prize Tourney! There will be prizes (including two wool /cashmere-blend cloaks, one for heavy and one for rapier, and a gaming table), fellowship and two soups: borscht with meat and vegetarian chickpea. So bring your armor, your appetite, and a bowl! Both heavy combat and rapier fighting will be celebrated. The event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
March 3 - Noble Diversions - Shire of Cloondara with the Barony of Westermark (location TBA - check their website)
By day, Nobles must uphold their duties and help uphold the land. By night, they seek amusements and merriment. Come join us as we spend an evening cavorting with friends, lightening our purses, and playing the games of the nobility. We will have a variety of games that you can play and people to show you how. We will also be holding a silent auction so that you may take your favorite game home!
March 10 - 25th Anniversary White Shield Tournament and Feast - Barony of Darkwood (Monterey County Sheriff's Posse Grounds, Sunnyvale, CA) For twenty-five years the White Shield Tournament has taken place, and many great fighters have fought and been victorious on its tournament field. It is time to join us in celebrating this joyous occasion as we mark a quarter century of excellence. Gather with us to witness the next champions of Darkwood. Test your skill against the best fighters of the Kingdom, both heavy and rapier. Hear the tales of tournaments past as we hold the Bard of the Oaks Tournament. The Darkwood Silent Auction also returns to this event this year. After you have had your fill of combat, the cooks of Darkwood wish you to stay and feast with us.
March 23-25 - March Crown Tournament - Kingdom of the West (location TBA)
Come see the grand tournament of heavy fighters as they fight for the right to crown their consort with roses and become with her (or him) the heirs to the Crowns of the West.
March 27- April 2 - Estrella War - This NOT LOCAL but falls on SPRING BREAK- The Kingdom of Atenveldt is pleased to announce that next year's Estrella War will be held at a new site (Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ). This is one of the handful of large wars every year that is within a reasonable driving distance of the West Kingdom. The large wars tend to have something for everyone: classes on a wide variety of topics and crafts, competitions, performances, lots of merchants, and of course fighting galore!
Recurring events & practices:
Thursday Fighter Practice - every Thursday on the top level of the Front Street parking garage in downtown Santa Cruz (across from Bookshop Santa Cruz) from about 6pm with Fencing/Rapier practice and "heavy combat" with rattan and full armor.
Canton Meeting - monthly meeting in Santa Cruz, often with some art, science or craft to learn. Check the Caer Darth website or yahoo group for details about the next class topic and the meeting location (it moves around!).
Archery Practice - the second Sunday of every month. Contact Caer Darth or visit their website for location and details.
Sewing - second and forth Mondays at a house in Santa Cruz. Visit the Caer Darth website for details.
There are also dance practices, choir practices, calligraphy and illumination sessions, armoring workshops, etc in the nearby area. Check back here later for more details or contact other local groups such as Caer Darth, Darkwood, Crosston and Southern Shores.
Canton Meeting - monthly meeting in Santa Cruz, often with some art, science or craft to learn. Check the Caer Darth website or yahoo group for details about the next class topic and the meeting location (it moves around!).
Archery Practice - the second Sunday of every month. Contact Caer Darth or visit their website for location and details.
Sewing - second and forth Mondays at a house in Santa Cruz. Visit the Caer Darth website for details.
There are also dance practices, choir practices, calligraphy and illumination sessions, armoring workshops, etc in the nearby area. Check back here later for more details or contact other local groups such as Caer Darth, Darkwood, Crosston and Southern Shores.