Archiving Mount Vernon’s History – September, 2019

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Olde World Faire – Dates: 1993 – ????

Photo of King and Queen in Memorial Park
King Alf Houkom and Queen Barbara (Babs) Moore – Olde World Faire @1990s – — photo submitted by Mary Evans

The MVHPC’s 2019 summer intern, Addie Pacha, discovered newspaper articles, a photo album and brochures about Mount Vernon’s Olde World Faire.  The following is a summary of the event from those archived documents.

Mount Vernon residents and visitors were once transported back in time to a celebration of Europe’s Middle Ages.  The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee with a matching grant from the Iowa Humanities Board sponsored an Olde World Faire.

It was held at Memorial Park from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. Festivities began with a Medieval feast of stew in bread bowls. Attractions included performances by musical groups, jugglers, sword play, craft demonstrations, an encampment by the Society for Creative Anachronism, play performances by Extraordinary Women, street theater and vendors serving old world treats.  School children demonstrated their skills at juggling and playing the recorder.  A highlight of the faire was the parade led by the king and queen from Cornell College’s King Chapel through town.


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