What is there left to be said about DAVID TIMMONS' KING ARTHUR FAIRE?  It spawned many acts that perform and flourish at Renaissance faires today.  It left a legacy with those performers and others.  I was inspired to start my website and promote small Oklahoma faires after its departure. 

August, 2009

1. What was the name of your event?

The King Arthur Faire. 

2. Was it focused on any particular era, place, event or person?

Historic and Legendary 5th Century Britain in the Reign of King Arthur. 

3. How long did your faire run?

1999 to 2006. 

4. What inspired you to establish your realm?

Every Fair visitor wants to meet a knight in shining armor who represents the ideals of Knighthood, Arthur being the epitomie of Knighthood was a logical choice. 

5. What does it take to get such an event started?

Time, Money and dedicated teamwork. 

6. Who are some of the more critical people or entities to coordinate with?

Health Department, Utilities Services, Local and regional media. 

7. Did you schedule your faire around other events in the area?

Yes we avoided the State Fair and smaller events. 

8. What made your faire unique?

It was character driven versus shopping oriented or drink-till-u-puke events.  It taught the virtues of Chivalry to the audience in an interactive not staged way. 

9. What other things have you organized?

Halloween Festivals and family events for the community. 

10. Do you perform or have a booth at other festivals?

Not anymore. 

11. What are some of the funniest things that happened at your faire?

The School of Staged Combat performing a Medieval adaptation of Star Wars. 

12. What gave you the most satisfaction about your event?

Watching the core team of Kid volunteers take the values of knighthood and applying them to their lives, often without knowing it. 

13. Do you have anything to add?

It was one of a kind.

I met Roger at the Iron Thistle Scottish Fesitval in 2009.  He allowed me to take flyers to the festival for distribution.  He also organized the Oklahoma Celtic Festival each year in Stillwater, OK.  He was very accommodating in letting me open a booth there in June to hand out flyers and let visitors know where festivals happen around Oklahoma.  Roger is a good guy and treats the musicians at his festivals very well.

July, 2009

1. What is the name of your event?

Oklahoma Celtic Music and Heritage Fest (AKA OK Celtic Fest)

2. Is it focused on any particular era, place, event or person?

No, though we do have SCA participants in Stillwater who share, Viking participants, historians and performers who reflect different areas in history but our event features the music, dance and heritage aspect more than a specific time period.

3. How old is your faire?

We are getting ready to hold our 4th event June 19 and 20, 2010.

4. What inspired you to establish your realm?

Realm is not quite the word but what made us do this event is I am a performer with many friends both in state and out.   I had worked as an organizer on the entertainment board of Scottish Festivals.  Jerrel Murray the founding father of United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma gave us the inspiration that festivals needed to be part of our heritage.  I knew we had plenty of talent in this state alone to do a festival.  Many of these performers were working out of state like I was.  Some could barely find work in state.  I felt like we could start with our own and add regional and national acts as the event grows to support it.  Stillwater was half way between Tulsa and Oklahoma City and the city of Stillwater wanted to help us-and so did the United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma who gave us our not for profit status.  http://www.uscoscots.org/index.htm  I also knew if we started promoting Celtic Performance in the state it would help us all.  Adding the other parts of our heritage like horses and sheep dog trials was a natural in Stillwater and the Payne County Expo was just the place for it all so here we are. 

5. What does it take to get such an event started?

A darn fool hearted notion that this it could be done, needed to be done, had plenty of performers willing to work with you, United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma seeing the vision, others willing to help and a city willing to help you.  We started with no money but a wealth of performers who worked to raise the money and a city who helped with both money and promoting. Great pubs like Sean Cummings’ Irish Pub has given us support all year long.  Dan McGuinness’ Irish Pub has supported us as well.  Both have stepped up and helped the Iron Thistle too.  In the past, we have had fundraisers at McNellie Irish Pub in Tulsa, too.  We are planning more performance fundraisers at pubs in the state.  Money helps but every time a Celtic performer performs somewhere in this state it helps the festival.

6. Who are some of the more critical people or entities to coordinate with?

Stillwater CVB, Stillwater Arts and Humanities, United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma, Tulsa Irish American Club, Oklahoma Stock Dog Association, Stillwater SCA, Celtic Horse owners, Payne County Expo, vendors and last but not least-performers in the State.  

7. Do you schedule your festival around other events in the area?

Yes, we have two Scottish Festivals and many Ren Faires in the state to work around--we also had to make it after two Scottish Festivals in June in Kansas and Texas.  We could not have it on a conflicting date with any Stillwater event as well as select what was available at the Payne County Expo so we are pretty locked it.

8. How do you advertise your event?

We have used local Radio (pay and free), TV (local free through the Stillwater CVB), newspaper (pay and free), Shop and Swap and Web TV.  We try to get listed in as many event sites and in as many calendar listings as we can find.

9. What makes your festival unique?

We offer the largest number of Celtic performance groups in the state.  It is the only festival in the state with a Full Sheep dog trial (not a demo) and a horse show.  We offer music workshops as part of the event.  Sessions are encouraged on stage and off.  This year we had a cooking class, wine tasting and beer tasting with history class.  We have three air conditioned buildings, outdoor green expanse and an indoor arena so it gives us a lot to grow with.   

10. What other things have you organized before?

I have been a part of both Scottish Organizations in Tulsa and OKC.  I worked as entertainment coordinator for Tulsa Scottish Games and the festivals United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma has produced including the Iron Thistle Scottish Games.

11. Do you perform or have a booth at other festivals?

I have been both a solo performer and am now working with the band "On the Doss".  I have set up as Clan Graham convener at Scottish Festivals for many years.  We do set up a booth were ever we can to promote the festival-we will be at the Payne County Fair again Labor Day Weekend and we set up separate or with United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma at many events in the state.

12. What are some of the funniest things that have happened at your faire?

We had to call overhead for a sheep dog to return to the arena to gather up the escaping sheep during the horse show this year.  That was a hoot-but we had the man power or rather dog power to handle it.

13. What gives you the most satisfaction about your event?

The growth of interest in the state for our heritage and the performance.  Dance troupes have grown, number of bands has grown and chances for them to perform across the state all year long has grown so the Celtic Community has grown and that makes me happy.

14. Do you have anything to add?

Each year we added more workshops, more events and more performance.  This year that included regional acts as well as state. We hope for continued growth but we have enjoyed the event all along the way.  This festival could not have happened without our Celtic performers in this state or the City of Stillwater or United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma, and all those who support us and we thank everyone.

DAVID RUFF/STICKBOW ARCHERY sold me a longbow at the Four Winds Faire in 2010.  That bow is awesome.  It shoots very well & was very affordable and well crafted.  I get lots of compliments on it everywhere I go.  David’s crew is very accommodating and has been happy to work with me.  www.stickbowarchery.com

When and why did you start making bows? 

Are there any famous archers or bowcrafters that you admire?  Why?