Today the Common Ground Fair starts, and the big news is there will be organic coffee.   Well known for featuring only Maine food, the fair has forbidden coffee being served at the fair because – well, you cannot grow coffee in Maine.    However, this year, they have bowed to the pressure of the crowd, and it will be available.    Also new  they will not be selling bottled water.   The water at the fair is great to drink – so bring your own container!!!

As always, the fair strives to totally recycle as much as possible, so, be prepared to minimize your footprint on the planet – bring your own bags to carry your new treasures and enjoy the wonderful handmade crafts, exhibits and organic products made on Maine Farms.   My favorite is the fiber goods, warm hats and mittens for the next season. See the Lama and Alpaca and cashmere goats. The fair website is the best place to check out the schedule. This is a wonderful event for all age groups.

Don’t forget the animals – poultry, rabbits, sheep, horses, goats, cows and of course the “boarder collie sheep herding” competition.   Our daughter grew up attending this fair and it sparked an interest in how things are made.   She ended up learning how to spin yarn, knit and crochet even though we lacked those skills.  The fiber producers at this fair are amazing.   It’s part of growing up in Maine and it’s part of the creative economy.

I noticed as I entered the fort that every SCA member wore a different costume. There appeared no common theme or slice of time; I later found out that each member is assigned (or perhaps chooses) a specific date and location within medieval Europe to research and create the proper dress from. Members therefore must become proficient garment makers and most work hard to use authentic materials like linen and cowhide. One member confessed that in reality most people of the era were given a tunic as a baby and added strips of cloth as they grew. By the time they were adults they were often dressed in rags as linen was so expensive. The SCA members clearly avoided the rag look and were proud of their garments. A fashion show later in the day gave them a chance to show them off and explain their research.

Under the ramparts were tables exhibiting battle gear, food of the era, musical instruments and personal possessions. None of these tables had things for sale, a nice break from the usual festival. This was really a labor of love! I can’t remember a single pitch for money besides the parking fee. Still, it would have been nice to have a snack or a drink…

The rest of our visit revolved around listening to music groups, watching dance demonstrations, archery, spirited swordplay and other duels and combat. The combat involved men and boys dressed in armor whacking at each other with swords and quarterstaffs. This created quite a din and some minor injuries occurred! It was apparently judged, with winners and losers, but it was all in good fun.  It’s a good idea to bring folding chairs. Fortunately the weather was stunning, as it often is in September in Maine.

This event was great fun and while not under-attended, it was definitely not crowded. Some of the visitors even got into the spirit by dressing in unusual, if not authentic garments and a wide range of ages were present. An added bonus would be a trip to the top of the bridge’s observatory, which is open from 9 AM to 5 PM and costs an extra $2-$2.50 beyond the Fort Knox admission, which is $3 for Maine residents and $4.50 for non-residents. Parking for both can be found by taking a sharp left before crossing the bridge from the west (Belfast) side or right after crossing from the Bucksport side.

Today we took a fifty minute road trip to the Medieval Tournament at Fort Knox.  Fort Knox, near Bucksport, is about the closest Maine gets to the ambiance of an old world castle, with its dry moat, sprawling battlements of native granite and high river bank placement. The first question any visitor asks is, “Is this where they keep the gold?” The answer is no. This Fort Knox, unlike the gold depository in Kentucky, was built in the mid 1800’s to safeguard the mighty Penobscot River from invading British Canadians. It is located across the river from the town of Bucksport, in the shadow of the new cable-stayed Penobscot Narrows Bridge. More can be learned about Fort Knox and the new bridge at the excellent Friends of Fort Knox website.

The Medieval Tournament was sponsored by the Friends of Fort Knox and the Society for Creative Anachronism, a wonderfully silly group of people who began in Berkeley, California in 1966, and who have the goal of recreating the Middle Ages through dress, music and activities. Think Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I had no idea there was such a group in Maine! In fact, there are four “shires” in Maine, Malagentia, Hadrian’s Keep, Endewearde and Smithwick. Fort Knox happens to be in the shire of Endewearde, the members of which were the primary organizers of the events.

Upon entering the fort grounds we were transported to a different time as we encountered a defender adjusting a giant crossbow. Never mind that it was built with a leaf spring from a truck and that it shot arrows rendered harmless with PVC pipe and foam rubber, those details are easily overlooked when we saw the fine wooden construction and the convincing dress of the adjustor. Just before the entrance to the fort were situated two large round tents. The inhabitants explained that the raw cotton swelled to become waterproof in the strongest of downpours, and that no other waterproofing was used. The interior furnishings appeared authentic and finely crafted. I was informed by a tent dweller of the definitions of the terms Middle Ages, Medieval and Renaissance and the time periods involved.