Medieval Times Faire

On Friday, October 20, 2023, the Institute for Medieval Studies hosted its inaugural Medieval Times Faire on UNM campus in Smith Plaza. As a university-community engagement initiative, the IMS and IMS Outreach Program organized a variety of medieval-themed educational demonstrations and family-friendly activities at zero cost to all attendees. 

The Medieval Faire ran from 11:00am to 3:00pm with seventeen different stations for attendees to visit with the goal of broadening visitor’s understanding of the Middle Ages from a global perspective while honoring the diverse heritage of New Mexico communities. University student organizations, departments, faculty, and graduate students, alongside local ABQ musicians, vocalists, sports leagues, curandero traditional healers, and the New Mexico Shakespeare Company came together for an immersive day of medieval art, history, medievalisms, and reenactments. 

Participants included: the IMS and its Outreach Program to the Secondary schools; the Medieval Studies Student Association; the Galleries, Archives, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) club; medieval bookmaking with IMS graduate students; Albuquerque Sword Labs, affiliated with the Historical European Martial Arts Alliance; Albuquerque Jackals, affiliated with Armed Combat Worldwide league; Cantores Festivi, an early modern music group; Quodlibet, an early modern choir; Arita porcelain production with Kathryne Cyman, UNM Professor of Practice and graduate students; medieval to modern weaving practices with Patty Savignac, UNM Weaving Instructor; Curanderx herbalist and horticulture practices with Atava Garcia Swiecicki, owner of Ancestral Apothecary; and garland making and hair braiding by Emily Wafer, owner of Vibes Salon. Additional stations offered craft making, including a dragon finger puppet and a Robin Hood hat; games, including ax-throwing, lawn darts, a walkable labyrinth, and a feud catapult game; and graduate students hosted an arita porcelain artisans market, a medieval bake sale, and temporary dragon tattoos.