Days of Yore returns in all its glory

DIDSBURY - Didsbury's 3rd annual Days of Yore re-enactment festival returns on the August long weekend with more groups than ever. The unique festival, which is organized by the Mountain View Arts Society, will be held Aug. 4 - 5 at Rosebud Park on Highway 582 across from the Zion Church.

Kathleen Windsor, Days of Yore committee member, said preparations for the event are going very well.

"This year we have found it to be easier," said Windsor. "We have a small committee and we get together a few times a year. We're so comfortable working together, everything has flowed so well putting it together. The grass is beautiful. We've expanded the area for more parking. We also have overflow parking and the re-enactors will all be parking at the Zion Church across the street. We have a great relationship with them and are very thankful they're a part of Days of Yore as well."

Windsor said they have groups representing different eras from 9th century Scandinavia right up to 20th century Germany.

"This will be our third year," she said. "The Sons of Fenrir Vikings have been with us since 2012 but for Days of Yore it's the third year."

Windsor said the Sons of Fenrir would come to the Mountain View Arts Festival and proved to be very popular.

"They were so popular and so big we had to separate them off," she said. "Partly because of that and partly because we wanted to move the festival downtown. The Vikings needed room for a fire and a camp village and there's nowhere in town where they could have their village spread out. So we separated it into two events. Then the Sons said, 'there's other people that might like to come too.'"

Windsor said they invited several other groups that first year and had a great turnout.

"It just grew from there," she said. "Last year, because of Canada 150, we went to Edmonton and we brought in the Edmonton House Brigade. We also had the 10th Battalion (CEF) Commemorative Association, which is World War I, and they're also from Edmonton. New this year is the Prairie Motor Brigade from the Crossfield area. We're going to have Didsbury's military vehicle show and shine."

Windsor said the Prairie Motor Brigade will be bringing a replica of the iconic jeep from M*A*S*H, the hit TV show set during the Korean war.

Other performing groups returning include: Dragon's Own Medieval Combat Group, 78th Fraser Highlanders, Tankee Valley Yankees and the WWII First Special Service Force Reenactors.

In addition to the historical re-enactments, people can expect music with pipers and fifers, singalongs, games, storytelling and food such as pigs in a blanket (hotdogs) and beast and yeast (beef on a bun).

"When you walk through the gates you're greeted right away from some of the actors," said Windsor. "They explain if you go here you'll start at the 1800s and you'll stroll through the ages right up to the 20th century and World War II. It's an educational experience, it's a historical museum. It's just a lot of fun for all ages."

Tickets are available at the gate and online at daysofyore.ca.