Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/41965
Fort Bragg Brings the Renaissance to Life by AMANDA JENKINS Travel back to the medieval times with Fort Bragg's first Renaissance Fair on Sept. 17 and 18 at the Smith Lake Recreation Area. "This is our first year, but we are hoping it will be an annual event," says Pearlita Price, Fort Bragg's Special Event Coordinator. "We were just trying to brainstorm new event ideas and one of our colleagues suggested a Renaissance Fair, so we surveyed some other customers at events that we were doing it and we had a very positive response that customers did want to see a Renaissance Fair." The gates will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday and the fair finale will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday. "There will be a lot of different things participants will be teaching customers how to do authentic dances from this time period. that are all Renaissance and Elizabethan era themed," says Price. Watch live Paragon jousting tournaments, go on a Unicorn or Warhorse ride, and get educated with the living history exhibits and role players. There will also be armor and combat demonstrations by knights, belly dancing shows, live musicians and games such as axe throwing and archery. Some of the child- friendly events will include knighting ceremonies, and some arts and crafts where they can make their own shields and head pieces. Aside from the medieval games and performances that will take place, there will also be a Masquerade Ball on Saturday from 5-6 p.m. where Come out to the Smith Lake Recreation Area, chow down on a roasted turkey leg, watch some live entertainment and help Fort Bragg welcome their first Renaissance Fair to Fayetteville. The Renaissance Fair is free of cost and open to the general public. "Everybody and anybody is welcome," says Price, "You've got the hardcore people that really live for the Renaissance Fairs, subscribe to the magazines and travel around to the different Fairs, you have the families with the younger kids that would think it'd be cool to get knighted or little girls that want to be a princess and ride on the unicorn and you have the people that maybe don't think they'll enjoy it, but they don't have anything else to do that weekend and we can just get them out and show them a different side of Fort Bragg and the Army." While the admission, the performances, and the exhibits are all free of charge, there will be food and beverages on site for purchase and some of the games are going to have a minimal cost of a dollar for three tries at the archery or three axe throws. So come out to the Smith Lake Recreation Area, chow down on a roasted turkey leg, watch some live middle-age entertainment and help Fort Bragg welcome their first Renaissance Fair to Fayetteville. Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com Celebrate the Arts and Delight the Senses at 4th Friday by DEMITA HOLLIE Looking for something fun to do with the family? Well, don't worry about gassing up the car or packing your bags; you can enjoy a stay-cation right here in Fayetteville. If you haven't heard of 4th Friday, an event held on the fourth Friday of each month in downtown Fayetteville, it's not too late to see what all the excitement is about and get in on the action. Did someone say Dogwood Festival? No, no, it's not the Dogwood Festival — but it is something like a miniature version, with a dose of the arts and some creativity thrown in for good measure. 4th Friday brings a sense of fun and community to the city, fi lling up the streets of downtown Fayetteville, month after month. Art, entertainment, shopping, wine tasting, takes off from The Cotton Exchange at 226 Donaldson St. in downtown Fayetteville. Sheri Collins, 4th Friday coordinator with the Fayetteville Downtown Alliance, feels 4th Fridays are a great idea that get residents to come out, walk around, and get an idea of what Fayetteville has to offer. "Many people are new to our community, Cindy Whitehead is one of the many artists who frequent the downtown 4th Friday event. Photo by Yuliya Atabay. delectable dishes and desserts? Several businesses and vendors, along with the Art Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County pull out all the stops every month to make each 4th Friday more memorable than the last. Calling all artists! If you paint, bead, write, dance or have any other creative talent that you want to display, this is defi nitely your time to shine. Cindy Whitehead, one of the many artists who frequent the downtown event month after month, has been coming to 4th Friday for four years. "4th Friday is a true celebration of the arts and downtown Fayetteville. People of all ages can come out and enjoy art, entertainment, bistros and shops to fi nd unique items." Whitehead said. This celebration of the arts is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Fayetteville. From Hay Street to Gillespie Street and all the points in between, door prizes and colorful exhibits are likely to steal the show, that is, if the miniature train ride around downtown Fayetteville doesn't. Choo-Choo... The Cotton Exchange Express seats four to six people and 8 UCW SEPTEMBER 14-20, 2011 brought here by Ft. Bragg, and are not familiar with the heart of our city. 4th Friday gives them a reason to come downtown," says Collins. "Among the favorites are the belly dancers and the drum circle, which invites everyone to participate. This year the Downtown Alliance has a different theme and activities for 4th Friday each month. That will continue in 2012 and the events are expected to grow and become even better." Mary Kinney, of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, says the city is gearing up for a special twist to 4th Friday for the month of September. "This September, 4th Friday is going to be different from any other Friday. It will kick off the Art Council's 33rd International Folks Festival, a three day event that includes the Parade of Nations. This parade represents different cultures and will begin at 7 p.m." said Kinney. Whitehead, an avid lover of all things art and the opportunities available with the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, sums it up best when she says "4th Friday brings an evening of fun and camaraderie for everyone. Seeing all kinds of folks get together for a fun fi lled evening is what I like the most." Find out more about 4th Fridays at http://www.theartscouncil. com/fourthmain.php or http://www. fayettevillealliance.com/4th_friday.aspx. DEMITA HOLLIE, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AMANDA JENKINS, Contributing