photo by Perry Hopkins

photo by Perry Hopkins

Last weekend, May 20-21, there were strange goings on at Morley Park, as hobbits, orcs, elves, and other unusual people could be seen strolling throughout the Park, and all manner of entertainment graced the grounds, from sword play, to belly dancing, to musical minstrels. That’s because last weekend was “Fellowship of the Springs,” the 2017 Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire, put on by the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Without having a gate entrance we do not have an accurate number of attendees, but it is estimated over 400 attended between the two days,” said Chamber President Perry Hopkins. “Rain doesn’t stop a Renaissance Faire. It may have chased away a few patrons, but the faire still went on.”

E-Leesa Gypsy Enchantress and Steel Lotus Dance Troupe entertained everyone on the Gypsy Stage; Darkmore Colony of Larpcraft shared their battle skills on the hill by the north entrance to the park with their Larpcraft swords shields, and talent; Kingdom of Shiabruck took the flat ground and entertained with metal swords and their fenced in arena for patrons to dual with foam swords. The Wind Rose Minstrel, Bell Brook and Cantro, Joe Kid and Sheila Burke performed their musical talents in multiple areas of the park giving patrons entertainment as the shopped at vendor booths such as Belly Dance Costumes USA, Paracord Fashions, The Knotted Cloak, and Perry’s Place llc for herbs, teas, and more… Mother Earth Mehndi was set up doing Henna Art for passer byers.

A Royal Dinner (catered by The Grilling Company) with live entertainment was held on Saturday evening for those who wish to attend. Cast Co-Director Scott Schroeder emceed the Royal Dinner with a special toast from Cedar Springs Mayor Pro-tem Pamela Conley. Queen Victoria (Mandy Stephenson) and other cast walked the grounds mingling and entertaining people all weekend.

“We (the event committee) were happy to see more local people at this year’s Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire and more of them came in costume,” said Hopkins. “There was much positive feedback about us switching the date to May verses having the fair in June like previous years.”

He also said that because they didn’t have a parade this year, the vendors were able to do some shopping at local businesses before the festivities began. Many of them are eager to return.

“You know your fair went well when some of the new attendees comment about what they want to do for next year,” said Hopkins.

Saturday, October 15

Would you like to have some great family fun and contribute to a good cause at the same time? Come on out to Skinner Field at Morley Park on Saturday, October 15, from noon to 5 p.m., for the Music Festival, Games and Family Fun event put on by Team Brison, to help raise funds for local teen Brison Ricker, who is suffering from a brain tumor.

This event will have a dunk tank for the kids who attend to dunk some of their favorite (or not so favorite) teachers and faculty (if the weather is warm enough). There will be live musical performances by the band Mane Street, Four Soldiers, The Larson Brothers, and others. The Grilling Company is donating Barbeque with sides (asking donations to Team Brison for the meal). Drinks and concessions will be sold at the Skinner Field Concession stand. Team Ensley will have a hot air balloon there for people to get into and check out. En Gedi will have bubble balls for bubble soccer from 12 to 3 p.m. There will be a cake walk, raffle items, auction items (Deer Mount, Carbon Fiber Arrows, Ice Fishing Pole, Michigan State tickets, and more), vendors, face painting, three legged race, and more.

Tickets are $5.00 if you purchase them ahead of time at eventbrite.com or $10 at the gate. To buy them ahead of the event visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-festival-games-and-family-fun-for-team-brison-tickets-27171816635

Brison Ricker is living with a rare and often deadly childhood brain tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine glioma (DIPG). With the help of medical professionals and advancements in medicine, he is battling his way through but needs more treatments.
The friends of Skinner Field have donated the use of their facilities for Team Brison to host a fundraiser for Brison and his family to help with medical costs.
They can use a few more volunteers to help make this fundraiser event a success. If you would like to help out please call Perry at 616-439-0890.
If you would like to be a vendor at the event please contact Amanda at 616-240-3174.

Music is back for this year’s Founders Day, along with several other events. Post photo by J. Reed.

March 28-29

Cedar Springs was officially recognized as a village 143 years ago, on March 18, 1871. And that’s something worth celebrating.

The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce invites young and old alike to come out and help celebrate that special event with the second annual Founder’s Day weekend, March 28-29. There will be something for everyone!

The event kicks off Friday with a new addition—a children’s street fair from 4-7 p.m. at the tent on the corner of Main and Ash Streets. From 4 to 5:30 p.m. there will be music, a balloon man, and face painting; from 5:30 to 5:45 will be storytelling by Post editor Judy Reed; from 6 to 6:30 ventriloquist/magician Charles Mabie will entertain the kids. There will also be carnival games and other events going on during the entire three hours such as ring toss, beanbag toss, duck pond, bucket bonanza, crafts, a log cabin to play in, a real lumberjack, model trains, wooden train sets, and a petting zoo courtesy of Double K Farms and 4H.

Saturday has more in store. The Cedar Springs Public Library will host pioneer crafts and storytelling from 10 to 1 p.m. at the Library. The Cedar Springs Historical Museum will be open from 11 to 3 p.m., and host several different presentations at the museum as well.

The Saturday evening free concert is back at the Ash Street tent from 4-10 p.m. and all ages are welcome. This year’s concert features the bands Signal Trip and the Youz Guyz Band. Food will be available to purchase from The Grilling Company and will feature pulled pork, brisket, and sides. Beer (including a local craft beer) and hard ciders will also be available to purchase.

Chamber president Shawn Kiphart said that they called the future Cedar Springs Brewing Company first (a business coming to the area in the future) to see if they would be available to supply the beer, but they are not yet ready. “We look forward to using them at a future event,” he noted.

For questions about the event, call Kiphart at (616) 773-5126.