There will be armed combat in Sonora next weekend; how you can catch the action

Knights (not likely in white satin) return to the Mother Lode next weekend, armed with lances and ready to wage war.

And those fully armored jousters aren’t messing around at this year’s Sonora Celtic Faire.

Competitors from History Channel’s “Full Metal Joust” have challenged some of the stars from the National Geographic channel’s “Knights of Mayhem” to a little “extreme jousting,” according to information from fair organizer Patrick Karnahan. The medieval rumble will go down at this year’s festival, set for Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11.

“This will be no medieval dinner show,” Karnahan said in a press release, “or acting troupe trying to play make-believe — this will be hard-core, full contact jousting at its most extreme.”

Full-armored competitors from one of the two former TV shows are not new to the Mother Lode event. The 2011 Sonora Celtic Faire was a set location for the second episode of “Knights of Mayhem,” including reigning jousting champ Sir-Charlie Andrews, according to the release. “Years later, Sir Charlie is still up to defend his title at Sonora again.”

Jousting is among a host of events at the annual three-day Celtic blowout, including another combat sport, “Battle of Nations,” a foot-combat event with armored Celtic knights who battle using metal weapons authentic to the period. Bouts are both one-on-one and melees that feature up to a dozen knights.

“The Sonora Celtic Faire offers a window into the past, highlighting over a thousand years of history,” according to the release. “(Fairgoers) will get a chance to see a first-century Celtic encampment, marvel at Viking Raiders, Scottish Highlander camps and visit the throne of Mary Queen of Scots.”

Another of the annual festival’s highlights is its musical entertainment. Featured bands this year include Celtica, The Wicked Tinkers, Tempest, Golden Bough, Black Irish Band, Pub Crawl, Cooking with Turf and Culann’s Hounds.

There also will be several marching bagpipe bands and dance groups throughout the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

For those who like to shop, this year’s fest offers its largest Celtic Marketplace with hundreds of craftsmen, artisans and importers peddling their wares — from kilts, t-shirts and hats to musical instruments.

Family activities include stage acts and venues for kids, along with a fire-breathing dragon, magicians, juggling acts, a sword swallower and a character-filled children’s storybook village.

Zeroing in on the adults, there again will be whiskey tastings featuring four categories of spirit blends: Scottish single malts, Scottish blends, Irish whiskey and bourbon.

With many of the vendors and venues covered, the Sonora Celtic Faire goes on rain or shine, including the armored battle events.

This story was originally published March 3, 2018 at 4:09 PM with the headline "There will be armed combat in Sonora next weekend; how you can catch the action."