• courtesy of Coastal Grove
• Knight and Lady

"A true Renaissance person is always changing  -- ahead of the times, creative, inventive." So says Mihael Kavanaugh, one of the inventive volunteers who'll help run this weekend's Medieval Festival of Courage.

His kids have outgrown Coastal Grove Charter (folks from the school founded the festival eight years ago with parents from Big Lagoon Charter), but even though his offspring are no longer attending, Mihael's still involved. In addition to coordinating the performers, stages and sound systems Saturday and Sunday, he'll be strolling the grounds costumed as a wandering troubadour with his mandolin, flute and guitar. He'll also play a set on the main stage Saturday (2:30-3:30) following the traditional Celtic band Scatter the Mud (1:30-2:30). Pipers, student and parent musicians are among the other minstrels both days.

Sunday's music includes the fine local Celtic quartet Good Company (1:30-2:30) and Hearthfire, a husband and wife harp/mandolin/guitar duo from Bridgeville (2:30-3:30). Before and after the music both days they'll have full contact jousting on horseback by the Knights of Mayhem with bouts at 12:30 and 3:30. Earlier Saturday (10 a.m.-noon) kids can take the Enchanted Village Tour or on Sunday (again 10-noon) participate in Parzival's Quest.

On both days the Village and Market area includes a medieval encampment with Society for Creative Anachronism reenactors, knights and ladies, archers and fencers, tradesman and artisans, jugglers and riddlers, puppeteers, magicians and storytellers. Irish step dancers do jigs and three different bellydancing troupes entertain. They'll have apple pressing and mead making demonstrations and various foodstuffs, medieval and otherwise from Blackberry Bramble BBQ and others.

When day is done on Saturday (festival grounds close at 5 p.m.), the action moves to Sapphire Palace at Blue Lake Casino where medieval fare will be served in A Knight's Dinner with jesters, more music and swordplay. (Proceeds from the dinner benefit Blue Lake Education Foundation. For reservations call 668-9770 ext. 2731.) After dinner, those 21 and over can retire to the Wave where mad electric mandolinist Lief Sorbye and Tempest get all medieval mixing Celtic tunes with metal.

The Medieval Festival of Courage runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 and 10, at Christie's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze on Hwy 299 near Blue Lake. Admission is $5 for full-grown gentlemen and ladies, just $2 for youngsters 12 and under, toddlers and babes under 2 are free. Proceeds go to Coastal Grove Charter School and other participating schools and nonprofits.