Harts and Horns Thanks – from Co-Event Steward Sarah le Payller
Greetings to all who read these words,
This was a complicated event with a lot of pieces, so first thanks is to all the staff who ran the different activities.
Thanks to Lord Egill Illugasson of Serpentius called Badhands, our previous heavy champion, for running the tournament and coordinating the heavy fighting! Milissent was the Minister of the Lists and Sir Talan was the marshall. Vivat to Sir William, our new heavy champion, and to Alexander Mescovitch, the populace champion!
Thanks to James O’Galleghure of Tyr Connal, our previous Rapier champion, for running the rapier tournament and serving as rapier marshall. Thanks to Wormwood for serving as Minister of the Lists for rapier! Vivat to Malcolm Bowman our new rapier champion!
Thanks to Aislinn for running the Artisan’s Corner! There was spinning, weaving, embroidery, handsewing, and a display on herbs, as well as many folks gathering with their projects.
Thanks to Elizabet Marshall for running the John Marshall atte Forde competition, with a theme of bread (delicious, delicious bread). And Vivat to our four winners!
Bella Tessatore made wheat berry with barm, and was recognized for Embodying John Marshall award.
Gwen (a newcomer, welcome!) made einkorn sourdough and received the Balance award.
Violet Grey made Vánočku and Vánočka and won the History award.
Aislinn made Challa and was recognized as the “go-to” bread.
Thanks to Hrothgeirr Mjoksiglandi for running games for all who were interested, and coordinating the games tournament. Vivat to Santiago Vieyra for our new games champion! Aiden Underhill and Gwalchmai ap Talan competed in the tournament.
Thanks to Jacqueline Cross for separating folks from their cash during the Renassiance Rummage Sale, and many thanks to Adelina for hauling away all the leftover items. And we couldn’t run the Rummage sale without everyone’s donations! I am always worried we won’t get any donations and every time folks find something to donate! We made $257 from the Rummage Sale.
Thanks to Lillia de Vaux for running Herald’s Point! I saw folks in there learning and getting their questions answered.
Thanks to Ivette for running Gate and handling all the reservations and walk-in for the event, and thanks to Arpad and Rosie for helping.
Many thanks to our head cook, Grainne inghean ui Neill, for researching and cooking a four-course feast, with many many dishes! And thanks to Maxine Lee, Ray Halpern and Emily Halpern for helping our cook in the kitchen!
Thanks to Duchessa Diana Alene of Tregirtse for running dance!
We did not have many youth attend but we were prepared – thanks to Adelina, Rosie, and Milissent for being available to run children & youth activities.
Thanks to Kolozsvari Arpad for coordinating the announcement of all our new champions during feast!
And thanks to those who did the work of setting up and cleaning up from the event. Thanks to the Friday night setup crew, my co-event steward Faelan and Hrothgeirr, James and Adelina, and Alison and Brandr, and our head cook Grainne. Thanks to Alison for preparing the feast sign-up seating chart. Thanks as well to the folks who stayed until the end on Saturday – Faelan and Hrothgeirr, James and Adelina, and Blue (whose knowledge as a past event steward was most helpful in locating brooms). I also wanted to thank Wormwood for always asking what he could do to help, and gladly taking out trash, moving tables, and sweeping.
Thanks to those who pitched in in the kitchen at the end of the day, especially when there was a problem with the dishwasher and many folks had to step in and help with the dishes.
And of course this event wouldn’t have happened without my co-event steward, Faelan Sinnoch! Thank you for all your assistance the day of the event, and all the work leading up to it, talking over all the decisions and ideas that went into Harts & Horns, finding staff for all the different activities, and especially finding a cook for the feast.
YIS
Sarah le Payller, co-event steward for Harts & Horns
Harts and Horns Event Announcement
Harts & Horns
Hosted by Shire of Hartshorn-dale – Douglassville, PA
Event date: November 29th, 2025
Event Last Modified: November 27th, 2025
Event details
Welcome all to the Shire of Hartshorn-dale for our annual Harts & Horns! Like previous years, we will have rapier and armored combat, a delicious afternoon feast, dancing, gaming, and Arts & Sciences.
The theme for this year’s John Marshall atte Ford food competition will be bread! Details posted below.
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Tentative Schedule
All Day
Artisan’s Corner – Downstairs in the Lower Hall
Rummage Sale (Becomes free at 4pm) – Downstairs in a classroom
Herald’s Point – Downstairs
Youth Activities – Downstairs in the Lower Hall
Elevensies – Snacks will be available in both the Upper and Lower halls
Game Tournament 10 am – 1:30 pm – Downstairs in the Lower Hall
Fighting: Tournament Details – for Rapier and Heavy Combat – OUTSIDE
Field opens at 10 for Inspections, pick-ups etc.
Tournament at 11ish. Rapier tournament format TBD based on attendance. Heavy tournament format TBD.
Winner will be the Shire’s Champion until the next Harts & Horns.
Field will close at 13:30 so we can all hit Feast at 14:00.
1 pm Dance
2 pm Feast
After Feast: Indoor activities resume (A&S, Children’s, Rummage sale)
5:30 pm Start Cleanup
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Feast
The full feast will be at 2:00 in the afternoon to allow gentles to enjoy feast without going late into the evening. There will NOT be a lunch style dayboard, but ‘Elevensies’ (coffee, tea and snacks) will be available throughout the morning. Attendees are encouraged to contribute a snack to the table.
The feast is being prepared by Grainne inghean ui Neill. Please contact the head cook with any allergy concerns at Kellypsheppard@gmail.com .
Beverage: Pomegranate Sikanjabin (Pomegranate juice, sugar, and red wine vinegar)
First course:
Khilāt with vegetables (yogurt with chopped capers, olives, pickled lemons, and drizzled with olive oil)
Flat bread (Store bought)
Shredded carrots and oranges (Shredded carrots, orange blossom water, pulpy orange juice, cinnamon,honey, and pear juice)
Second course:
Ahrash (meatballs) with sanâb (sauce) (ground lamb, salt, pepper, coriander seeds, cumin, vinegar, onion, and garlic) (sweet hot mustard and white wine vinegar)
Arroz campesino (round rice, carrots, onions, garlic, chickpeas, and saffron broth)
Muthallath (vegetable stew) (turnips, zucchini, eggplant, saffron, water, pepper, coriander, and vinegar)
Third course:
Thūmiyya (braised chicken thighs, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt, pepper, spiknard, black cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, almond flour, almonds, and water)
Juba Maqli (fried floured halloumi cheese, honey side)
Isfanāk Mālbukh (cooked spinach, almond, salt, pepper, coriander seeds, cooked egg yolk)
Finish:
Mu’assal (honey pudding) (cornstarch, rose water, water, honey, saffron, slivered/ toasted almonds, and oil)
Dried dates and apricots
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Tournament
Anyone is welcome to enter the tournament. If you do not wish to serve as Shire Champion please indicate that when you enter. We ask that our Champion be ready to represent Hartshorn-dale when called upon to do so at regional events. The Champion will also run the tournament at the next Harts & Horns. We will be looking for both our Rapier and Armored Combat champions.
Tournament Details – for Rapier and Heavy Combat
Field opens at 10 for Inspections, pick-ups etc.
Tournament at 11ish. Rapier tournament format TBD based on attendance. Heavy tournament format TBD.
Winner will be the Shire’s Champion until the next Harts & Horns.
Field will close at 13:30 so we can all hit Feast at 14:00.
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John Marshall atte Ford food competition: Bread!
Get your bread on site by 1 pm to be included in the competition! Winner will be announced during feast.
The third annual competition in honor of Magister John Marshall atte Forde will be held. This year the theme is “Bread.” Entrants are asked to bring two loaves, or approximate equivalent of smaller bread items. One will be used by the judges and one will be for the populace display. If a loaf, please do not cut one of the loaves, but feel free to cut the one for display.
Minimum documentation required will tell the judges what you made, what ingredients you used (vital, bread will not be judged without this information), your process and any period inspiration or sources you may have used. We know, however, that there are not a lot of sources and that will be considered during the judging process. Judging will be done using plain butter that will be provided. Please feel free to provide additional spreads for the populace presentation.
As with last year, the exact categories will be determined by the number and kind of entries. At minimum there will be Judges’ top and populace top. Prizes will be items from the collection of John Marshall.
Feel free to contact Elizabet Marshall (123583@Members.Eastkingdom.org) with any questions just to let her know you’re planning to enter.
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We will have an Artisan’s Corner! Artisans will have space to display & demonstrate their skills. Please contact our Minister of Arts & Sciences, Lady Aislinn Ysobel d’Argentan, to request space: MoAS@hartshorn-dale.eastkingdom.org
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There will be open gaming throughout the day, and a games tournament. Details TBA.
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Activities for Children and Youth will be available. Unfortunately we had to cancel Youth Combat.
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Renaissance Rummage Sale! Do you have too much SCA stuff in your basement? Bring it to donate to the Renaissance Rummage Sale!
Would you like more SCA stuff in your basement? Bring cash for the make-an-offer Renaissance Rummage Sale! All reasonable offers accepted. Towards the end of the event, everything left will be free! That’s right, anything left can be yours for the low, low price of taking it away!
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Herald’s Point! Heraldric consultations will be available. Come bring your questions about names and devices.
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Changing rooms will be available. There is an elevator to permit access to all floors of the event.
Site rules:
Dry site
No smoking indoors. *Cigarette butts* must be disposed of properly. Absolutely no butts dropped on the grounds anywhere.
No pets.
Site Opens: 9:00 am
Site Closes: 6:30 pm
Site Opens: 9 am
Site Closes: 6:30 pm
Event Location
St Paul’s United Church of Christ
1979 Weavertown Rd
Douglassville, PA 19518
Google Map
The event site is accessible per the East Kingdom Accessibility Porter’s Checklist.
Registration Fees
Registration:
Site fees:
Adult Member: $20
Adult Non-member: $30
Age 17 and under free. No family cap.
Walk-ins are welcome, but feast is pre-reg only. Feast is $15 for adults, ages 0-18 must register but there is no charge for feast.
PayPal will open on Wednesday, September 10th and close on November 19th.
PayPal link: https://surveys.eastkingdom.org/index.php/186517?lang=en
A PayPal invoice will be generated within 24-48 hours of the online preregistration information being submitted. Online preregistration is not complete until the PayPal invoice has been paid.
Feast:
13th Andalusian feast
Feast fee $15 per person for adults. Children are free but must be registered however.
Feast is limited to 80 seats.
Feast is pre-reg only. Pre-reg for feast closes before pre-reg for the event.
Off board attendees are welcome and there will be a seating area in the main hall for off board.
Make Checks Payable to: SCA inc-Shire of Hartshorn-dale
Contact Information
Event Steward:
Co-stewards:
Faelan Sinnoch
300482@members.eastkingdom.org
Sarah le Payller
168536@members.eastkingdom.org
Send Reservations to:
Ivette of Worchester
3023 Limekiln Road
Birdsboro, PA 19508