The Starkhafn Equestrian Guild is open to any member of the Barony who is interested in equestrian arts. Baron Conall mac Séagháin serves as Starkhafn's Equestrian Marshal and head of the Starkhafn Equestrian Guild. The Renaissance reenactment starts at 3 p.m. today in Petrack Park. Advertisement

This weekend, Petrack Park and McCullough Arena will be transformed into a medieval European Renaissance kingdom. The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) is coming to Pahrump to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Barony of Starkhafn: a barony is a large local group, and Starkhafn (pronounced stark-hafen) means dry place in Old Norse. So it refers to the SCA chapter of Southern Nevada.

The public is invited to come learn, observe and participate in three days of festivities including sword and rapier battles, an archery tournament, equestrian events. And yes, live jousting.

The event will start Friday afternoon, Feb. 29, at 3 p.m. and will last into the evening. The festival will continue until Sunday, March 2, at 6 p.m. Unlike last year's Viking-style tournament, this event will be a traditional SCA tournament and festival.

There are no real hours for the festival, other than the beginning and end times because the festival is all encompassing.

SCA members and guests will be camping out, "living the dream," says Margaret Douglas of the SCA. That means members will be sleeping in period style tents. They will prepare and eat all of their personal food all weekend by traditional methods. There will be campfires and bards singing around the fires. The festival will end when everyone goes to sleep and begin again when they wake up.

The public is welcome to attend and encouraged to dress the part. Even if you don't have a fancy costume, it is not too hard to find clothes that look medieval. A peasant blouse and long flowing skirt would work fine, never mind the details.

Men might wear a squarely cut natural fabric shirt and pants. Sandals or leather shoes work for everyone. Dress comfortably. The point is to enhance the experience, and to feel the age that is being reenacted by participating and doing.

Costumes will be available to rent, too. Be sure to ask for loaner "garb."

There are no food vendors planned for the weekend, so be sure to take a picnic (forget the silverware!).

The cost is $18 for adults for a weekend pass. Youths age 6-14 pay only $7, or there is a family price of $35. The fees are one-time charges for the weekend, so go early, stay late, make friends and go back to learn more about a special craft or skill. Children 5 and under are free. There are discounts for card carrying SCA members.

The SCA is the largest and oldest medieval renaissance reenacting group, with about 40,000 members worldwide. It is dedicated to not only the learning and sharing of knowledge and skill of the medieval era, but also to the safety of its participants. Most tournaments require an SCA certification to participate, so that skill levels are identified and appropriate challenges programmed.

More information is available about the SCA or the Barony of Starkhafn by visiting the Web site at www.starkhafn.org.