Cooks Creek Medieval festival hosts enthusiastic crowds with Tolkien-UFC blend of feudal fun

Last weekend saw Cooks Creek come alive with the opening of the biannual Medieval Festival, held on the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church and its adjoining castle-like grotto.

Featuring a light-hearted approach to the medieval theme, the festival combines historical traditions such as feasts with modern carnival midway attractions, blacksmiths and artisans with Lord of the Rings inspired costumes, and time-honoured combat techniques with a UFC-type feel to behaviour and scoring.

“There is so much to see and do at the festival,” says organizer Gary Senft, and that explains why tickets consistently sell out well before the gates even open. “We hosted 450 for the feast that was held on Friday night of Festival Weekend, and the event sold out with over 3,000 in attendance each day.”

“It is family friendly in terms of affordability, with lots of hands-on activities for young attendees, including live action role play, a bouncy castle and petting zoo. There was a medieval merchant market, axe throwing, archery and an open chess match that anyone can participate in,” said Senft.

While the enjoyment of bountiful food with games for younger attendees is certainly welcome, it’s really the thrill of armoured combat by steel-clad athletes and the thunder of hooves that draws people to the grotto, and to mount the viewing stand on the recreated castle behind the cathedral.

Several different local clubs, such as the Winnipeg Knightly Arts and the Mace Company Manitoba had members come out to the festival to demonstrate their martial skills. Although well-padded armoured and weapons blunted, the blows and physical exertion were very real, leaving shattered weapons and exhausted combatants lying on the field and waiting to receive hard-won trophies at the end of each event.

Members of the Historical Armoured Combat Sports Association, for example, demonstrated the sport of Buhurt, a full-contact combat contest where athletes in authentic historical armour fight using heavy steel weapons. A fighter is considered “dead” once they touch the ground with a third point of contact, such as a knee or hand, and wrestling and grappling techniques are allowed.

The broadsword fighting event features fencing type rules but administered by a UFC inspired judge who awards points for blows that would cut off the limbs, including an opponent’s head, were the contest waged with real edges. The weight of the armour combined with the heat of the day left many athletes gasping and in need of high-powered fans resembling hairdryers and “ale” to keep them from exhaustion.

“Hold! Thrust to the neck from Sir Bernhardt to Red. Three points Yellow. Score is 6 to 1 for Yellow and Sir Colby. Fighters ready? Fight!” orders the referee dressed as a minstrel, and only missing the cage of the UFC’s Octagon to complete the feel of the contest. Commands are followed by the clash of iron weapons and the dull thud of metal on padded armour. “Hold! Undercut to the body. 2 points Yellow. Ohhh, cut to the pretty face. 3 points!” calls the ref.

For many the highlight is the jousting event.

Performed by the Society of Tilt and Lance Calvary, an international consortium of combatants from as far afield as Australia, Norway, and of course Texas, riders simulate the ancient contest of nobles to determine prestige and honour.

Norwegian contestant Arne Hugerup and his mount Atlas were repeat champions this year, but that did not eclipse 80-year-old jouster Darrell Joseph Bossley from putting in a notable performance, nor female jouster Renae Robyn who also performed “nobly” and rode onto the field displaying a feline-inspired suit of armour.

“My favourite moments when we hold this event are especially the look of wonder on children’s faces as they walk throughout the site and see and interact with the number of guests who were in full costume, creating an amazing atmosphere as they embrace a simpler age gone by,” says Senft.

A quick glance around the grotto confirms Senft’s observations, as amongst the petting zoo and multiple baby strollers are an endless parade of those who have come out to participate and enjoy the days-long make believe, many wearing period costumes they designed and created themselves.

Matt Irwin and Madison Hornbeck are typical of those who have braved the heat in full costume to enjoy the atmosphere and activities.

“We came for the first time two years ago, and we did dress up then, but our costumes were kinda just thrown together, but we had such a blast pretending with everybody and just getting into it. So we were like, ‘next time we have got to be here.’ So we had two years to prepare and we are pretty stoked about the results,” said Hornbeck wielding her archery equipment.

The Cooks Creek Medieval Festival is an important fundraiser for maintaining the historic cathedral and grotto that serves as the forum for the event. The church was constructed from 1930 to 1938 by the Ukrainian Canadian priest and architect Philip Ruh and was designated a Manitoba Provincial Heritage Site in 1986 and a National Historic Site in 1997.

“A portion of the proceeds goes towards preserving this famous setting as the national treasure it is,” says Senf.