Dragonwood Faire: Fun a la Mode Medieval

Up for a little pomp and pageantry this weekend? Then join the jolly host of quaint and curious characters who will be dancing and singing, minstreling, miming and generally having a good time at the Dragonwood Faire, at Crescenta Valley County Park in Glendale, today and Sunday.

Knights and highwaymen, medieval lords and ladies, pirates and pixies, magicians, jugglers and elves--all will be there.

And should you feel a little quaint and adventurous yourself, just don your dragon-slayer garb before coming down to the “faire.” Costumes are very much encouraged, but by no means required.

The purpose of the “faire” is to raise money for local charities dealing with AIDS and drug and alcohol abuse. It’s the brainchild of a Northridge-based group, Dragonwood Inc., a band of merchants, craftsmen and small businessmen brought together three years ago by their mutual love of fantasy.

Dragonwood Inc. takes as its motto “Phantasia Cambiare Realis,” or “Fantasy Can Change Reality.” With this tenet in mind, members decided to begin organizing fantasy fairs with the object of sponsoring charity organizations too small to qualify for federal assistance.

In this instance, the proceeds will go to Focus Center for Education, 14547 Titus St., Suite 110, Panorama City, (818) 989-4175; Beyond Rejection Ministries Inc., 1357 Linden Ave., Long Beach, (213) 591-1707; and Adolescent Alliance, 2751 Mary St., La Crescenta, (818) 248-2626.

Dragonwood Inc. has engaged the services of members of the Society for Creative Anachronism and other fantasy/historical groups, performers and craftsmen. Handcrafted arts will be for sale.

Dragonwood Faire will be open to the public from 10 a.m. till dusk today and Sunday. Enter the fairgrounds at the 3901 Dunsmore Ave. entrance to Crescenta Valley County Park in Glendale. Tickets are $7.50 for one day, $15 for two days, with a $1 refund for attending in pre-1700s costume; seniors and children under 12 pay half-price. Ample parking is available on the street and in community lots.

For further information, contact Dragonwood Inc. at (818) 780-3325.