DIDSBURY - The fourth annual Days of Yore was another big success over the long weekend with numbers well up from last year.
The historical re-enactment festival, which was held Aug. 3 and 4 at Rosebud Park in Didsbury, drew huge crowds out to see epic sword battles, big cannons, live combat and much more.
The festival is hosted by the Mountain View Arts Society. Kathleen Windsor, chair of the Days of Yore committee, said the event went very well.
"Any time an outdoor festival has great weather organizers are thrilled," said Windsor. "We had almost 500 more people this year than last. A total of 1,936 people came through the gate. People came from Calgary, Red Deer, Airdrie and every community in Mountain View County."
Days of Yore featured popular medieval performers Sons of Fenrir Vikings and Dragon's Own Medieval Combat Group, as well as the booming cannons of the Yankee Valley Yankees. There were also representatives of both the First World War (10th Battalion) and Second World War (First Special Service Forces).
Also featured were the games of the Victorian Society of Alberta, the fur traders from the Edmonton House Brigade and the military vehicles from the Prairie Motor Brigade.
Windsor said she has heard plenty of great feedback from visitors about this year's event.
"Our ambassadors received great comments from the visitors," she said. "They liked that it was something different and had something for all ages. The Vikings and the cannons were tops, with all the 20th century military and fur traders right up there."
Windsor said she also talked to a little girl who told her that she was, "very excited that the Victorians had taught her how to sew on a button."
The Sons of Fenrir Vikings from Calgary have long been one of the most popular acts at Days of Yore. The Vikings perform well-executed battles on the performance field. They also have "fights" with youngsters, a.k.a kiddyviks, armed with pool noodles.
The Vikings had been coming to the Mountain View Arts Festival each year but were so popular that organizers decided they needed their own festival, and that's how Days of Yore began back in 2016.
Blaine Kueffler, also known as Hrungr the Jarl, has been with the Vikings for several years. He said going to Days of Yore is always a highlight for the group.
"This is a lot of fun," said Kueffler. "I love how it's set up. You can tell there is a lot of love put into it by the sponsors and volunteers. It's been a very nice time seeing everyone having a lot of fun."
Kueffler said it's not just about the battles although that's big too.
"We have a village set up here with the campfire, combat demonstrations; it's basically a living history," he said. "It's fun to educate the public about stuff you don't really see every day."
Kueffler said the weekend went very well despite the weather being pretty hot.
The Vikings get together every weekend to practise, he said. The group performs in about six shows a year with up to 30 members.
"I've always been interested in history -- particularly the Viking age," he said. "When you can find a like-minded group of people and share information and learn as you go. Plus there aren't many hobbies where you can hit your friend with an axe and not get in trouble either."
Kueffler said the Vikings always try to explain the history and meaning behind the battle performances.
