Gyldenholt Anniversary 2025
WHERE: Cedar Grove Park, 11385 Pioneer Rd, Tustin, CA 92782
Know this, fair friends, the Barony of Gyldenholt has something to declare! Our 46th Baronial Anniversary is upon us. We beseech thee, in accordance with the tradition of our land, by invitation of their Excellencies Baron Brynjólfr Brandsson and Baroness Dyrfinna Drengsdottir, to attend a day of such golden complexion, a day so lovely, so temperate, we shall compare it to none other! The Bard’s quill calls, whispering in our ears, “By the illuminating light of the longest summer day, I have a secret to reveal…” And so the matter of consequence, the theme of our endeavors, shall be A Shakespearean Day of Midsummer Mischief and Magic. Be inspired, dear cousins, by solstice visions, bardic brilliance, and faerie’s enchantment. See our sweet recreation in summertide beauty, by flower, by fire, by light!
Their Excellencies will seek Champions of sword and shield, of pen and pot, for Armored, Rapier, Cut & Thrust, Youth, Bardic, and Cookery. References to The Bard’s plays shall please their Excellencies, so thine costumes and songs in honor of Hamlet, Puck, and others are welcome, and pray, bring forth thine Shrewsberry Cakes, Junkets, and Warden Pies! Additionally, Arts & Sciences entries fitting the theme are encouraged but not required.
An array of delights awaits your participation, including competitions for best themed pop up, best decorated mushroom for the faerie ring, and best rendition of a Shakespearean scene: limit 1 minute for 1 performer, 2 minutes for 2 performers, and a max of 3 minutes for 3 or more performers. Scenes will be provided on-site or you may prepare your own.
Provided will be posters of Shakespearean insults to be used at thine discretion but with special benefit to those on the battlefield when used against an esteemed opponent, details to follow. Also, the use of Shakespearean MacGuffins, likely involving Pucks Tears, Hamlet’s Ghost, and France, and new in the offering, I Do Bite My Thumb At Thee! Award, details to follow.
SCHEDULE:
8am – Site Open
10am – Opening Court (at their Majesty’s pleasure)
11:30am – Lists Open and Mushroom Drop-off
Children’s Activities Will Be Between Rounds
12pm – Bardic and Shakespearian Performances
1pm-2pm – Artisan Showcase
2pm-3pm – Combat Finals
4pm – Closing Court
6pm – Site closes
EVENT REGISTRATION: Adult Event Registration: $25. Adult Member Discount Event Registration: $15. Children 17 and under are guests of the Barony. Cash and checks accepted at the gate. Please make checks payable to “SCA Inc./Barony of Gyldenholt”.
COMBAT SCENARIOS: Armored Combat is standard double elimination, any weapons form. Rapier and Cut & Thrust Combat is standard double elimination. The finals will contain a twist. As the theme of the day is “A Shakespearean Day of Midsummer Mischief and Magic”, the twist will likely involve faeries and insults.
Youth Combat is scheduled to begin after the 4th round of Armored Fighting. A Youth Champion will be chosen based on the most honorable and chivalrous combatian.
ACTIVITIES: Specific contest details and interactive activities, including children’s activities, will be added here. We will update by the next council meeting on May 8th, please check back soon!
A&S: The Arts and Science display will have a 1 hour artisan showcase at 1pm to 2pm. All artisans are asked to participate by coming to the Arts pavilion and stand with their art and discuss. The Arts & Sciences entries do not need to follow the theme of the day. The entries do not require documentation but it is encouraged.
BARDIC COMPETITION: The Baron and Baroness will be selecting a Bardic Champion. The bardic pieces do not need to adhere to the theme of the day but are greatly appreciated. Due to allotted time, we ask that the bardic pieces be no more than 3 minutes in length.
MERCHANTS: Merchants are welcome, however, you must provide for your own city license and insurance.
SITE INFORMATION: Parking is limited, please unload and then park at Pioneer Middle School.
EVENT STEWARDS: Master Dafydd ap Tomas and Madame Cyrana Chardon d’Argent
EVENT EMAIL: anniversary.event@gyldenholt.sca-caid.org
DIRECTIONS:
From the North – Take your best route to I-5 South. Exit 101A Tustin Ranch Rd. and turn left. Go approximately 2.5 miles and turn left onto Pioneer Way. Turn right onto Pioneer Rd. The park entrance will be on the left.
From the South – Take your best route to I-5 North. Exit 101A Tustin Ranch Rd. and turn left. Go approximately 2.5 miles and turn left onto Pioneer Way. Turn right onto Pioneer Rd. The park entrance will be on the left.
Gyldenholt Anniversary 2025
Gyldenholt Unbelted Tournament
Location:
WHEN: Saturday, January 25, 2025 7am-6pm
The Barony of Gyldenholt invites you to join them in celebrating the skill, valor, and the honor of the Unbelted Armored Combat Fighters of Caid. The theme of the day is Hearth & Home! During these chilling winter months, we ask you for displays celebrating the ways we keep warm, keep cozy, or other warming arts / activities.
SCHEDULE:
7am – Site opens
8am – General set up
9am – Lists open
10am – Opening Court (at TRM pleasure) followed by the Tournament
4pm – Closing Court and site clean up
6pm – Site closes
EVENT REGISTRATION: Adult Event Registration $20, Adult Member Discount Event Registration $10. Children 17 and under are guests of the barony, but parents must still sign the minor waiver form or present a valid membership card. Cash and checks accepted at gate. Make checks payable to “SCA, Inc. Barony of Gyldenholt.”
COMBAT SCENARIOS: Combat will be a single elimination style tournament. A second life may be gained with a submission of an Arts & Sciences entry or a bardic piece. Entries will be on display for the populace to enjoy in a static display. After submission, fighters will be given a token to give to the list officer, redeeming their second life (If you plan to take your entry into combat, please provide a photo and a brief description of the piece for the display).
There will be a “Most Well Rounded Fighter” of the day competition. The winner will be selected from among the fighters who enter in the most events (A&S, Bardic, Chivalry). Sign up at the List table.
There will also be a People’s Choice “Fighter Edition” competition. The populace will be able to vote for fighters based on their combat prowess, chivalric behavior, their beauteous armor, or even how well they die. Votes can be cast during or immediately following any fight throughout the day.
ACTIVITIES: While Unbelted is a celebration of the Kingdom’s fighters, all are welcome to participate in the events of the day, including A&S Displays and Bardic (performances will be held at a specific time in the Gyldenholt Pavilion).
SITE INFORMATION/RESTRICTIONS: We will be using the field area at the East end of the park, at the top of a relatively small hill similar in stature to the one in Veterans Park in Altavia. Parking in the upper lot at the park is limited to 40 spaces. There is street parking immediately adjacent to the parking lot and in the surrounding neighborhood. Bring your patience, wagons and walking shoes. We will have an unloading/loading zone available in the upper parking lot. Please make use of it as described below. For those who need it, there will be helpers available to get your wagons up the small hill at the park entrance until 9:50 AM. DO NOT leave your vehicle parked in the red zone during the day, you will be towed by the city.
EVENT STEWARDS: Baron Brynjólfr Brandsson and Lady Ámóða Kristínsdottir
EVENT EMAIL: unbelted.event@gyldenholt.sca-caid.org
DIRECTIONS: From the North: Take the 405 South to Brookhurst Ave South. Turn right (South) onto Brookhurst. Take Brookhurst about 4 miles to Adams Street. Turn left (East) onto Adams. Take Adams about 1 mile to Mesa Verde Drive. Turn left (North) onto Mesa Verde Drive W. Take Mesa Verde Drive one block (you will see the park on your left) to Boa Vista Drive. Turn left.
From the South: take the 405 North to Harbor Blvd South. Turn left onto Harbor Blvd. Take Harbor Blvd about 0.25 miles to Gisler Ave. Turn right (West). Take Gisler about .5 mile to Country Club Dr. Turn left (South). Take Country Club Dr. about .5 miles to Mesa Verde Dr. W. Turn right (South-west) on Mesa Verde Dr. W. Drive about 1 mile to Boa Vista Dr. Turn right (West).
Unless you see street parking and want to park on the street straight away, PLEASE drive down the hill a bit to the second entrance to the parking lot on your left and come back up the hill along the right edge to enter our loading/unloading area near the park entrance. Once you’ve unloaded your gear, go find parking. DO NOT park in the red zone, you will be towed by the city).
Gyldenholt Unbelted Tournament 2024
LOCATION:
7:00am-Site opens
8:00am-General set up
9:00am-Lists open
10:00am-Opening Court (at TRM pleasure) followed by the Tournament
4:00pm-Closing Court and site clean up
6:00pm-Site Closes
A&S Display
Bardic judges await to hear your songs, poems, and prose celebrating Arms & Armor.
Pavilion Displays! The populace is encouraged to show off their shields, armor, heraldry, and weapons.
Lord Brynjólfr Brandsson
EVENT EMAIL: