Fair fans find unique methods to participate in Medieval Fair

Nursing senior Nicole Ridgeway is involved with this year’s Medieval Fair of Norman as a member of The Arthurian Order of Avalon, a group that stages human combat chess games. Ridgeway joined the group after her brother became involved.

The Arthurian Order of Avalon has an active membership of 70 people, and Ridgeway insists the relationships with fellow members are a big reason why she is in the group.

“For me, it’s the camaraderie involved, team members kind of become your family,” Ridgeway said. “Actually, both my brother and my mother are involved, so they literally are my family.”

The organization is a non-profit and open to any new members. When they are not performing at medieval fairs, Ridgeway said they are holding performances at schools, libraries and parks. Giving kids a fun and educational outlet is one of the main goals of The Arthurian Order of Avalon.

“We have a lot of teenagers in our group,” she said, “We give them swords in exchange for not doing drugs and making good grades in school.”

Like Eckhart, Shayna Grove, math graduate student, expanded her horizons with a fascination of medieval fairs.

“I’ve always been into the medieval fair thing, and one of the personas that I thought about playing one year was a jester,” Grove said. “But it didn’t seem right for me to be a jester if I didn’t know how to juggle.”

Grove tried to teach herself but was unsuccessful until she met her academic adviser. Also a juggler, he taught her the correct form, and together they formed a student organization called The OU Impeccable Jugglers Association.

The group meets weekly for social juggling sessions. After members grasp basic skills, they can move on to more advanced tricks. Grove said that when the weather is nice they often juggle outside.

“We have had people join our group from watching us juggle on campus,” she said. “And as far as organizing our first time to juggle at the Medieval Fair, it has been the biggest thing we have done all year.”

Medieval fairs play a large role in both Ridgeway and Grove’s lives, but for Eckhart they have taken on an even greater significance.

“Through these fairs, I found a group of people that were like a family and were very supportive and accepting,” Eckhart said. “I have found a very close knit community that doesn’t exclude outsiders.”