A sense of wonderment

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff Writer

To put it simply, Anita Pew is the president of the Sandpoint Renaissance Association.

But to put it accurately, she is Lady of the High Steward: Lady Ellura.

She said it all started last summer after attending Sandemonium, Sandpoint’s annual fandom convention.

“On the way home (from Sandemonium) I was thinking to myself, ‘What is something that Sandpoint doesn’t have?’” she said.

That inspiration has blossomed over the last year to create an official entity in the Sandpoint Renaissance Association, as well as Sandpoint’s first annual renaissance faire, set to take place this weekend at Wood’s Ranch, just north of Sandpoint on Woodside Road. Pew described the location as an “exquisite site,” perfect for a renaissance faire setting.

“It was a priority for us to have it as free from modern conveniences and trappings, but also as close to the community as we could,” she said.

Though Pew hadn’t attended a renaissance faire herself before deciding she wanted to host one in Sandpoint, she said she has always been deeply interested in the renaissance period. Over the last year she has gone to several faires and she said her passion for that historical time period has only grown.

“What I’m looking for is that when people (arrive at the faire) they have this sense of wonderment. If they get a little history, if they have a good laugh, if they just enjoy the music and if they’re just in wonder of the joust, I’m looking for awe and wonderment,” Pew said. “I’m hoping to see that on children and adults alike.”

And the jousting — which is put on by Spokane’s Epona Equestrian Team and takes place both Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. — is as real as it gets, Pew said.

“It’s them going at each other on horses and lances flying,” she said.

And even through the excitement of putting on such an extravagant event, Pew said she and the rest of the Sandpoint Renaissance Association board haven’t lost sight of who has made it all possible — various donors, sponsors and countless volunteers.

“We’re just very grateful, and we want the community to know that,” she said.

The first annual Sandpoint Renaissance Faire takes place Sept. 2-3 at Wood’s Ranch from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. There will be plenty of performances and vendors, Pew said, and Vietnam Veterans Chapter #890 of Sandpoint will operate the beer garden. Child and senior tickets are $5, while adult tickets are $10 unless that adult brings a bag of canned food for the food bank, in which case they can enter the faire for $8.