Staff | Activities | Facilities | Pricing | Directions | Flintmarsh Home
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Come join the Shire of Flintmarsh for an occasion which was years in the making - months in the planning...Our first ever |
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Come help us break the back of winter and welcome spring
at Compass Lake in the Hills, 645 Compass Lake Drive, Alford, FL 32420
March 5th - 7th, 2010
Baba Marta ("Grandmother March") is the name of a mythical creature that brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring. Her holiday of the same name is celebrated in Bulgaria on March 1 with the exchange and wearing of martenitsas. Baba Marta is seen as an old lady who has very contrasting moods. This is related to the weather during the month of March, which is traditionally extremely variable in Bulgaria – warm and sunny weather means that Baba Marta is happy; when she is angry, the winter frost returns. The majority of the customs connected to Baba Marta aim to make her happy and so bring about spring all the faster.
Martenitsa is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1 until around the end of March (or the first time an individual sees a stork, swallow or budding tree). The red and white woven threads are not just meaningless decoration, but symbolize the wish for good health. They are the heralds of the coming of spring in Bulgaria and life in general. While white as a color symbolizes purity and soul, red is a symbol of life and passion, thus some ethnologists have proposed that in its very origins the custom might have reminded people of the constant cycle of life and death, the balance of good and bad, of sorrow and happiness in human life. Given as an amulet in the period of spring, when nature gets "reborn" and starts blossoming again it was not only a reminder of that balance but also a wish for health, strength and happiness.
Autocrat Lady Katharina von Rabensburg
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Feastcrat Lady Rose Wynter
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Reservationcrat Lady Viviana Fiorentina
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No calls after 9:00 PM CST
We have many activities planned:
For the A & S types, we will offer a variety of classes such as: Persian and European dance, a class on banners, a scribal class, class on crossbow history (probably Italian), a class on Hastings and many more. All classes are R.U.M. accredited.
Detailed descriptions of available classes can be found at this link. For locations and scheduling, click here. (Classes and scheduling are subject to change.)
We encourage a display of Arts and Science projects (finished or not) for a Populace vote
For the fighting types we will have a tourney (or two). A torchlight tourney is planned on Friday night and a double eliminiation tourney for Saturday morning. Armor inspection will start at 8:30 a.m. Two fighting classes are offered also: One on Florentine fighting and one on fighting with a pole arm. An archery range is set up and we will have classes and a fundraiser archery tournament as well.
Feast is by reservation only. Traveler's fare is available on Friday. Breakfast will be served on Saturday and Sunday and a fundraiser lunch is available on Saturday. Feast menu available here.
There is limited cabin space available for an additional charge – Please contact Reservationcrat for availability.
The cabins are comparable with motel rooms. They are heated and air-conditioned and have a kitchenette as well as a bathroom with shower. They are furnished with two double beds and there is room for one, maybe two cots.
Camping is permitted – no ground fires, please.
There are a few RV sites with electric hookups that can be used for tents or pavillions.
The site is wet, but please practice moderation.
Nearby Restaurants:
- Friendly Kitchen in Fountain (small, unknown hours) – 10 miles south
- Hardees, Subway – 8 miles north at I-10
- Pizza in Cottondale (mom & pop) – 15 miles north
- Many in Chipley – 25 miles west, and Marianna – 20 miles east
Convenience Stores:
- 2 in Fountain – 10 miles south
- 1 at 20/231 intersection (also Hardees) – 15 miles south
- 1 in Alford – 4 miles north
- 3 at I-10 intersection – 8 miles north
- 3 in Cottondale – 15 miles north
- $22.00 weekend w/feast, $13.00 daytrip w/ feast
- Off-board – subtract $6.00
- Children 12 and under, half price; babes in arms, free
No family shall pay a site fee higher than 3 adults
Non-members add $3.00
Reservation deadline Feb. 19th, 2010
Make checks payable to SCA, Inc. – Shire of Flintmarsh
No checks accepted at door.
Site opens at 5:00 pm on Friday and closes at 11:00 am on Sunday.
Merchants welcome
From the north:
- Take Hwy 231 South approximately 8.5miles past the I-10 intersection, turn Left onto Lake Point Road and go approximately 2 miles. You will see a white fence and the entrance sign to Compass Lake in the Hills. Turn left onto Compass Lake Drive and go about 200 yards. The lodge is on your right with parking in front.
From the east or west:
- Take I-10 to exit 130, go south on Hwy 231, follow directions above.
