Fire in the Shire in Alma on June 8th
Visit Alma, Wisconsin on Saturday, June 8th for Castlerock Museum’s fourth annual Fire in the Shire event, a citywide celebration of all things medieval. Join us for what promises to be an exciting day full of colorful exhibits, demonstrations, food, shopping and family fun.
The event starts at 9am with a Meet and Greet with coffee and donuts at the Alma Hotel followed by a knightly procession at 10am led by an armored horse that will wind its way up to the Castle. The parade starts by the Alma Hotel, heads up Elm Street which turns into Orange Street, and then down 2nd Street to the museum.
Kazimir the Hungry will kick things off at the Castle with sword swallowing and fire breathing at 10:15am. The museum opens at 10:30am and there will be ongoing displays by Clann Tartan and A Life Medieval along with a traditional medieval craft demo.
For many visitors, the highlight will be the fighting demonstrations at the Castle. The Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association will demo the longsword at 10:40am and 2:00pm and the rapier, dagger, and smallsword at 12:00 and 3:20pm. There will be program on Armor thru the Ages at 12:40pm. Clann Tartan will do a non-firing matchlock demo at 11:20am and a pike demo at 2:40pm. Bardmageddon will perform in the museum theater at 1:20pm. Kazimir the Hungry will be back at 4:00pm followed by the Uptown-on-the Lakes Morris Dancers at 4:20pm. The museum closes at 5:00pm.
The Alma Hotel will provide concessions. Admission wristbands are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children four and under are free. Visitors in ancient, medieval, or renaissance era dress pay half price. Weapons must remain sheathed and peace-tied. Costumes can be bought at Art & Soul.
Visitors interested in searching for the fabled “Holy Grail” in the shops of the shire can enter a drawing to win the treasured artifact along with $100 Alma Dollars. The drawing will be held at the Castle at 4:15pm. Participating businesses include the Burlington Quilt Shop, Pier 4 Cafe, Fire & Ice, Art & Soul, Alfresco Pizzeria, Red Ram Saloon, Alma Leather, bluebird, Wings Over Alma, Water Lily Gifts, Bill’s Talk of the Town, Alma Blooms, Alma General Store, Spasha Salon / Two Old Crows, Stump Town Gallery, Whole Heart, Junk Market, Napa / River City Parts, Garden Gate, and the Alma Area Museum.
There will be plenty of merry making with the Lasa Anahata Tribal Belly Dancers, FairyLight Muse, and Midwest Renaissance Actors Guild traveling between the various shops on Main Street.
Activities at the City Lot, across from the Lock and Dam, will include archery for kids at 11:00am, additional performances by Kazimir the Hungry at 12:30 and 2:30pm, and the Uptown-on-the Lakes Morris Dancers at 1:30 and 3:30pm.
The Brothers Dymm will show off their comedy swordplay at the Big River Theater at 12:00 and 2pm. Constant State of Confusion will be juggling at the Hotel de Ville Patio at 1:00 and 3:00pm. There will also be face painting at Wings Over Alma from 1:00-4:00pm, a Renaissance Portrait Gallery at the blue Bird, and a medieval healer at the Stump Town Gallery.
There will be plenty of food with a Shire Shoes sandwich at Pier 4 Cafe, Dragon’s Breath Pizza and mead at the Alfresco Pizzeria, a King’s Platter at the Alma Hotel, Renaissance Ram Burgers at the Red Ram Saloon, and a Beef Sundae at Bill’s Talk of the Town. Fire and Ice will have Maid Marian Muffins, a Robin Hood Roast, and a free ice cream for children in costume.
The musical group Bardmageddon will play at the Fire & Ice Gardens at 11:30am and the Hotel de Ville Patio at 4pm. Patina will perform at the Alma Hotel at 1:30pm. The festivities will wrap up with a Masquerade Ball at the Empire Room from 5:00-7:00pm featuring Bardmageddon.
The event is cosponsored by the Hotel de Ville. Check out the museum’s Facebook page or www.fireintheshire.com for a complete list of the day’s activities. For event questions, contact the museum at 608-685-4231.