More than a craft show — a phenomenal one, albeit — the annual Medieval Market in Williams Lake has become a beloved community event, with friends gathering from across the Cariboo and beyond to enjoy hand-made goods, live music, food and friends.
Christie Mayall, one of the event organizers for the last 20-plus years, laughed when recalling the nerves some may face when entering a high school, but that the Medieval Market is a “lovely way to welcome the public into the school,” with its fun and upbeat atmosphere. Mayall now lives in Smithers but still helps Kim Nowotny with event organization.
The market, on average, sees over 3,000 people come through its doors each year, with vendors reaching as far south as the Lower Mainland and north up into Prince George. The majority, though, come from the Cariboo region. This year, there will be more than 110 vendors on hand.
The event is a juried craft show, meaning vendors must apply and present their products before a jury committee to be approved.
“We only take really high-quality stuff,” said Mayall.
Scott and Janet Zimonick, long-time vendors (now retired), still enjoy attending the market and attributed much of the event’s success to the community feeling and the volunteers.
“There are so many things that happen behind the scenes … hours and hours of volunteer time,” said Scott, noting Kim Nowotny, now the main organizer, as one of the driving forces behind the event, Rick Matthews and Bryan Sawyer, who play music and Caitlin Sabatino and Karen Day who cook food for the event, to name a few.
“It’s a community gathering,” said Janet.
Dena Baumann has been volunteering at the market for eight years, organizing the music, and also performing herself for the last 14. She also teaches band and guitar at Lake City Secondary School.
“It almost feels like a mini-musical festival now,” said Baumann, who noted the market has grown into an opportunity for students to get experience playing in a professional setting.
The school has two stages, the main stage and a smaller one in the gym, where students play and receive mentoring from Brandon Hoffman, who runs the sound systems.
This year, playing on the main stage are Quintet Plus, Beaver Valley Symphony Orchestra, Cariboo Fiddle Society, Shannon O’Donovan and Ladies of the Valley, 10 Day Notice, Troy Forcier, Dave Julius, Carmen Mutschele and Eloise Hobi.
Students playing include Sienna McCarvill, Lucas Ward, Journey Carlson-Campbell, as well as alumni Carmen Davis, Abby Roy, Makenna Lecomte and Nick Carrier.
Baumann said the musicians help contribute to the energy of the environment.
Another frequent face in the market is vendor Willie Dye, who has been selling fudge at the market since 1985, only missing two years. He dresses in a long robe and goes as Brother William. Despite attending other markets in the past, Dye said the Medieval Market is well worth his time.
“The Medieval Market is highly thought of in the craft fair community,” said Dye, who, to some, is known as the fudge monk.
He told a story of a woman who approached him one day at the market and remembered him from when she was a kid (her family, also vendors at the market).
The woman told Dye that as a child, she thought he was a real monk, just like one you might find in Switzerland or France making fudge. To her, he was always the fudge monk.
Mayall said the high school students are also a big part of the event, with funds for their school projects, such as sports, trips, band, dry grad and more.
The market “showcases the students,” said Mayall. “They’re working at the market, and they’re just the nicest kids.”
Students working at the market earn about $8,000 toward the programs they’re involved in, and teachers working at the market direct about $9,000 toward school programs they’re involved in, said Mayall.
“The market also gives out two Emerging Artist Awards, each for $750, to students who are pursuing a future in the arts.”
The 2023 Medieval Market takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Lake City Secondary School.
To get into the event, it costs $5 for the weekend or $3 for Sunday only. Children 12 and under are free.