Tain Bo is an annual spring event that the Barony of Glyn Dwfn (Glen-Doofen) of the SCA hosts in honor of gifted cattle, new champions, and this being year 11, a new flag to battle over. The SCA is a community of people who are eager to learn about and practice 17^th-century traditions. Overnight campers arrived on Friday, the 8^th of May, to set up for the weekend. Many people offered to help set up the kids’ maze for the Minotaur Run, which took a few hours of pounding poles into the ground, stringing line, and hanging sheets. The kids started playing tag, yelling and laughing as soon as it was safe to run, and continued after dark until bedtime. 

Saturday started with court from 9-10 am, followed immediately by the archery tournament and heavy-fighter war practice. On Willowdale Ranch, you could find merchants, the fighting arenas, the field of horses, an archery range, dozens of tents, a forge, dogs, and a barn. Throughout the day, there were heavy fighters, rapier, Cut N Thrust, Archery, and a kids’ fighter tournament that yielded three new champions who took their places to protect the court. 

After the evening court at about 5:30 pm, there was a homemade mead (honey wine) and cow pie (pie) competition in the barn. The kids went on to practice and safely beat one another for bragging rights. Shenanigans ended the evening with drunken tales, drunken scribe tasks, and a porta-potty lock-in. No injuries were reported, and everyone took care of each other and arrived safely at morning court on Sunday. 

To experience these family-friendly events yourself, go to the SCA Events page, find your kingdom, and find what interests you the most. Click here for the Kingdom of An Tir’s calendar.