The Medieval Society at Plymouth State College hosts and looks forward to the medieval forum every year, inviting keynote speakers, running three days of events, and entertaining people from all areas of New England. Happening this weekend, the opening ceremony will commence with a welcome by Dr. Virginia M. Barry, a reading from Chaucer, a formal opening, other periodesque readings, and an all sing.
Six sessions will round out the weekend starting on Friday morning, and ending on Saturday afternoon. Three sessions will be held each day, with a luncheon separating the first session and the last two. On Friday sessions like One if by Land; Two if by Sea, Pushing the Limits, Miscellanca Mediaevalia, Journey Through the Mind, Women in Medieval Times, and Noise and the Devil will catch the attentions of a wide range of people. Luncheon and dinner/feasts will be held each day to feed the hungry hoards after absorbing the days’ activities.
Rounds Hall will have its traditional dressing in banners on the outside and the inside will include lots of examples of heraldry decorating the bulletin boards. In the main stairwell, the windows will have stain-glass motifs, while the landings have banners and other examples of heraldry. On the second floor will be vending rooms (in 203 and 223) where all are welcome to come to consider whether to buy such medieval-themed objects as calligraphy, real (collectable) coins, hats and capes, and lots and lots of books.
There will also be a Mini-Medieval Fair in the Fireplace Lounge from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. A stage will be set up with continuous entertainment. Booths upstairs will hold demonstrations of chain-mail and armour making, herbology, art and calligraphy, games, and snacks donated by area businesses.
Friday afternoon will also include a workshop on how to make Celtic Spirals. For those who are inclined to entertainment, movies about the middle ages will be showing in Rounds 118. The idea of a movie-room is a new innovation which the Forum would like to try out for those who want to hear about the middle ages but would, or might, find the talks too technical.