Sonora Celtic Faire features battles of historic proportion

Armored combatants are getting ready to go all medieval on each other at this weekend’s Sonora Celtic Faire, part of a celebration of the popular festival’s 30th anniversary.

The fighting will get underway during the Friday-through-Sunday run at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora.

Battle of the Nations is a foot combat tournament, different from the fair’s popular horseback jousting events. Fair organizer Patrick Karnahan said weapons in the battles – bucklers, shields, polearms, axes, swords, maces “and other knightly weapons of the time periods” – conform to historically accurate specifications.

“Although the weapons are blunted, they are still heavy, forged steel, and capable of inflicting a lot of pain and damage,” he said in an email. “Fighters wear protective armor, averaging about 60 pounds, and based on historical medieval armor ranging from the 14th century to the 16th century, with strict rules regulating armor authenticity and references to a specific geographical region.”

There are two categories: duels and melees. Duels are won by a tally of points scored by landed blows in timed rounds, Karnahan said. Melee fights are won by knocking the other team to the ground or into submission.

“The round continues until one team (has) had all members ‘killed’ or knocked down. What strikes are allowed? Almost anything! You can hit with weapons and shields, bull-rush, leg sweep, punch, kick, grapple and throw,” he continued.

Battlers in Sonora not only will compete for medals and honor, Karnahan said, but also a chance to represent the United States at the Battle of the Nations championship for medieval fighters, to be held in May on the grounds of Prague’s historic Medieval Castle in the Czech Republic.

Among those vying this weekend will be Steven Schroeder, leader of the Northern California-based Ursus Fight Club. He said the Sonora event will be where the final U.S. team will be selected.

“At this fair, we will be determining who will represent the U.S. and what seeding we will be set in,” he said. Selections will be made for both individual fighters as well as five- and 21-person teams.

“This (Sonora Celtic Faire) is our choosing event,” Schroeder said. “This is the last one of the year. We’ve had competitions earlier this year, but (now) we are going for all the marbles.”

The combats are “definitely an adrenaline rush,” said Schroeder, of San Jose, who has competed on four international teams. “I’ve done all sorts of team sports ... and this to me is kind of right up there with anything else I can be doing. You have to be smart and physical, and be there to support your teammates.”

Because of the heavy armor, teammates can’t really communicate once a fight starts, leaving it up to instinct and a rapport with the rest of the team, Schroeder said.

“I love that aspect of it,” he added.

Schroeder – whose group competes across the state – said he’s been making armor and fighting in it for 29 years.

“I love the medieval history, I love the armored combat,” he said. “Fighting against the Russians or the Germans (in international competitions) ... there’s just unfathomable voracity coming at you and you have to find it within yourself to meet that challenge.”

Karnahan said the armored-combat battles are a perfect fit for the fair’s Celtic history theme, which celebrates the cultures of all Celtic lands, including Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland and Wales.

Other highlights at the festival – which is expected to attract about 12,000 over its weekend run – include tried-and-true favorites such as live music, dance, fire shows, jugglers and magic, costumed performers, jousting on horseback, a living history village, a kids fantasy world, a host of traditional Celtic food and drink, and more.

Also this year is a new stage and performance venue, The Teeling Whiskey Stage, where Celtic rock bands Stand Easy and Bricktop Blaggers will perform; it also will hold the event’s first Kitchen Solo Bagpiping Competition. Open to all interested solo bagpipers, the competition will be a judged event and awards will be given out for best performance.

The stage will be set up inside a new whiskey tasting building on the fairgrounds, devoted to the tasting of high-end spirits from Celtic lands, Karnahan said. Eight tasting samples will be offered along with a talk about the historic method of creating these spirits, as well as daily samplings of both Irish and Scottish whiskeys.

In addition, the 30th anniversary will be marked with a photo and newsprint exhibit of the fair’s history. The display in the Creekside building also includes an art show of original oil paintings of Ireland and Scotland. The Creekside Building was the site of the first Sonora Celtic Faire, which actually began as an art show, Karnahan said.

A 30-year party is planned for Friday night, with Scottish emcee Alan Purvus hosting music by Celticia, Wicked Tinkers, Molly’s Revenge, the Black Irish Band, Pub-Crawl and others.

Along with the jousting show that features armored knights battling on horseback, music always is the biggest draw to the fair, said Karnahan, who will celebrate his 57th birthday along with the fair’s 30th on Friday.

“Music has been everything to the Celtic Faire. Even if it rains or snows, people are always inside dancing away to the music,” he said. “Every year I try and bring a few new bands into the fold. I always keep a balance between Celtic rock and traditional roots music. In that way we have something for all ages and tastes.”

Speaking of rain, which is in the forecast for the weekend, the Celtic Faire will go on rain or shine, Karnahan said, pointing out that much of the event is under the cover of tents or buildings.

“We are ready for anything weather provides,” he said. “We just tell people that they are getting real Irish and Scottish weather for effect.”

On Friday, before the evening anniversary party, there will be a schools and family day devoted to Celtic education and history. Billed by Karnahan as a sample of what’s to come Saturday and Sunday, there will be demonstrations and hands-on education, a special jousting show for families, a performance by Celtica, Scottish dancing classes, bagpipe lessons and costumed performers. No beer or spirits will be sold during the day on Friday only.

Friday also marks the beginning of the aforementioned Battle of the Nations combats.

A special arena is being set up for the fights, with teams from Eastern Europe expected to participate along with Americans, about 50 fighters in all, according to a press release from Karnahan, who expects the events to be a hit.

“Like the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts),” he said, “this has a huge following in Europe and now in America.”

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 5:31 PM with the headline "Sonora Celtic Faire features battles of historic proportion."