Festival of Saturnalia
Please come join us for a weekend of Roman inspiration as we celebrate the Eastern Roman festival of Saturnalia. Come cheer on the gladiatorial fighters, our beautiful artisans in the craft hall, a bountiful Mediterranean feast, with much revelry included!
Camp Merrick site is fully accessible and ADA compliant, including accessible cabins, bathrooms, and dining facilities. The terrain is mostly flat grassy fields, and paved sidewalks, with gravel roads following to the cabins. The only steep terrain leads to the pier and firepit. Cabins are rustic but modern with their own bathroom and handicap accessible facilities. Service animal and pet-friendly.
Schedule
Friday
4:00 PM - Site Opens
TBD - Sea Dogs Taberna Opens
Saturday
9:00 AM - MOL Opens, Authorizations and Inspections Begin
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Static A&S Competition and Display Drop Off
10:00 AM - Marshal Tournaments Begin
10:00 AM Coursing Round Table - "Capture the Flag"
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Sew One, Sew On!
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Sea Dogs Run Fundraiser Lunch
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sea Dogs Run Coursing
3:00 PM Apollo's Bardic Challenge
4:00 PM - Martial Activities End
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Gustum Served
5:00 PM - Court
6:00 PM - Feast
8:30 PM - Sea Dogs Taberna Opens
Sunday
12:00 PM - Site Closes
General Activities
Arts & Science Activities:
Cooking Competition - Enter a bread or sweet baked good from any era or culture.
Apollo's Bardic Challenge - Tell a story/recite a poem/sing a song on the theme of gift giving/generosity and/or abundance. Entries will be performed beginning at 3PM. Please limit your performance time to 5 minutes or less.
Best of Dun Carraig - Enter any A&S creation that displays the glory of Dun Carraig. This could be through display of our red and white colors, use of our populace symbol the Sea Dog, or creation of as many cross bottonies as you can tolerate. Let Dun Carraig be your muse. Their Excellencies will choose the winner.
Scribal Workshop - Magnifica Thea de Nes, will be held in the A&S Hall beginning at 10AM. For Artisans who want to sit, do art, and chat.
Open A&S Solar - Halfway throught the day an open A&S solar will open.
Feast:
Lady Alexina MacSuibhne will be graciously hosting a banquet in a Roman Style with three culinary sections, Gustum, Prima Mensa, and Prima Secunda. The Gustum course will be available to everyone and served prior to court. A table will be reserved for those wishing to bring their own food and join the festivities of this banquet.
Please contact Lady Alexina “This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.” for food allergy concerns!
Gustum:
Dulcia Domestica - dates stuffed with ground pine nuts and almonds, simmered in wine and honey
Herbed cheese on lettuce cups
Mixed olives
Lucanian Lamb Omentata - lamb meatballs spiced as lucanian sausage
Prima Mensa:
Chopped chicken w/ choice of green herb sauce or fruit based red sauce flatbread
Honey glazed mushrooms
Roasted pork with a spiced myrtle red sauce
Daunian asparagus frittata
Cumin spiced carrots
Prima Secunda:
Torta Antica Roma - buttery crust spread with mixed berry jam and topped with a whipped ricotta filling
Globi - delicious fried balls of ricotta cheese dough coated in honey and poppy seeds
Savillum - smooth roman cheesecake soaked in lemon and honey
Martial Activities:
The theme of our martial activities is The Gladiatorial Games.
Archery: We welcome all Sagitarrii (archers) to bring their best to honor Apollo upon the Sacred Sagittariorum (archery range).
Armored: The Gladiatorial games (heavy fighting tournament) shall be in the theme of the Illiad. Each fighter shall have a patron God or Goddess accompanying them. (If none are available for a fighter the Marshall in charge shall fill that role). The tournament shall be a best out of three format. In the second bout of the three the losing fighter's accompanying deity can interfere by making their fighter immune to a type of blow to a specific limb or body area. Should a third round be required, the opposing fighter's deity shall retaliate in kind.
Rapier: Challengers will be provided with a number of scenarios to test their mettle. After morning authorization, the following scenarios will be held in sequential order.
Ursus Puteus - Can you claim the coveted title of Ursus Puteus Maximus (bear pit master) for forever? Or at least until next year? Will the fates imbue you with their blessing and/or special powers? Will you withstand the creatures summoned from the legends of old?
Grapes of Wrath Melee
Pick ups - Unitl the Feild Closes
Thrown Weapons: Velites, make ready your arms to loose your weapons in a show of accuracy and martial prowess in the thrown weapons arena.
Merchants:
All merchants are welcome! Please contact the event steward to arrange space.
Sea Dogs Run:
Let Loose the Dogs of Saturnalia!!
Coursing 101 – "Capture the Flag" - This is a roundtable discussion about coursing, how to become
a marshal, and questions anyone may have.
Dog Coursing
Coursing has come back to Atlantia. Join us for the inaugural coursing event at Saturnalia. All runs are completely fenced in and only 1 dog runs at a time.
Requirements:
- Dogs must be 1 year or older and in good health
- Proof of Rabies vaccination is required
- Females in season are not allowed to run or to be at the coursing field
You will need:
- 2 slip leads
- 2 people – 1 releaser and 1 catcher – or your dog needs to be comfortable with being released by a stranger
- Water and water bowl for your dog – there will not be a community water bowl
Visit the SeaDogs Run Facebook page for all policies and procedures.
Sea Dogs Run Fundraiser Lunch:
Lady Martine is providing a wornderful fundraiser lunch for Sea Dogs Run Coursing Gear. Each plate is $10. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available.
Contact Martine at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for allergy information
Lunch Menu - Chicken, Savory Toasted Cheese, Broccoli, Apple/Orange, Cookie
Sea Dogs Taberna:
Saturday morning and evening, The Caffeinated Hedgehog, purveyors of many and varied coffees and teas, will be making a return as well!
On Saturday following our sumptuous feast, our hall will be transformed into a gaming den.
Tabernia De Las Especias of Saturnalia:
Friday night there will be the Tabernia De Las Especias of Saturnalia - an Evening Tavern hosted by Casa Del Especias de la Cruz, led by Her Excellency Mistress Gracia Esperanca de Sevilla. $10 per guest.
Cost:
| Day Trip | Feast | Camping | Cabin | |
| Adult with Membership Discount |
20 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
| Adult | 30 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
| Youth (6-17) | 5 | 15 | 0 | 25 |
| Child (0-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Checks Payable To:
SCA-MD, Barony of Dun Carraig
Cabins are available by Pre- Registration only for $25 a bed. This event is available for registration on SCORES.
Checks can be sent to our reservationist.
Reservationist: Mistress Ceridwen c/o Linda McLaughlin, 11455 Edge Hill Road, Newburg MD, 20664
Refund Policy: If a person has paid for a Dun Carraig event, but is unable to attend, they may request a refund, in writing, from the Barony within 5 days of the event completion. The Barony may, at its discretion, issue a full or partial refund. Such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, by a refund committee consisting of the Exchequer, the Seneschal, and the event Event Steward.
Site Information:
Address: 3650 Rick Hamilton Place , Nanjemoy, MD, 20662
Directions: From 301 turn onto route 6 heading east. Turn onto left onto 425, until it merges with route 6. Turn left onto route 6 south and follow until you see a left onto route 224 or Riverside Road. Continue until you see Camp Merrick Gate on the left.
Alcohol is allowed on site, please clean up after yourself.
Dogs are allowed on site and in cabins, please clean up after your pets.
Cabins offer 10-14 bunk beds per unit, have heat, and AC. Each unit has a full bathroom and mini fridge. Before leaving, please sweep your cabin. No bedding is provided.
Event Steward Info: Lord Klaus of Dun Carraig, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.