Olde English Faire
Miss ye not the chance to frolic at the Olde English Faire, the first and second day of October, year of Our Lord 2012.
Stronghold's Olde English Faire is where you can step back in time and see what life might have been like during the Renaissance.
What delights await the Gentles at the Faire? Too many to mention but a few!
- Wandering players, on stage and off, who shalt amaze thee with feats of magic and derring do, zany comedy, heroics, and more
- Merrie minstrels shalt serenade thee with melodies from near and far
- Gremlin's Garden, where children reign, shalt be the site for children's plays
- A knighting ceremony by the Queen
- Join the Pirate Adventure
- Merchants and artisans offer fanciful treasures for M'Lord and Ladye
- Stronghold's International Gift Shop brings the world to thee
- Hearty food, coffee, and soft drinks available for purchase
Tour Stronghold Castle—explore the Great Hall, the Library with a ceiling painted by Russian artist Nicholas Kasaroff, the Rumpelstiltskin room and, of course, the secret passageway hidden in one of the rooms.
Costumed crafters will also be selling their wares throughout the Merchant's Walk. Booths will offer a variety of headpieces, costumes, pottery, handcrafted games, jewelry, hand-woven scarves and cloaks, candles, and many other items.
Stronghold's International Gift Shop, housed in Brubaker Center, offers a variety of baskets, toys, clothing, jewelry, wall hangings and decorator items from around the world. Items are handcrafted and sales benefit the artisans of developing nations.
A variety of food and snack items will be available in Brubaker Center and the Faire Food Court.
Gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Admission is charged — One-day pass: Adults $8, children 7-14 $4. Two-day pass: Adults $14, children 7-14 $6. Children age 6 and under are admitted at no charge. Check the website for discounted ticket sales prior to the Faire.
When not hosting the Olde English Faire, the 
Stronghold is the camping and retreat ministry of Blackhawk Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and is situated on 360 acres of woodlands on the bluffs overlooking the Rock River.
Stronghold is the camping and retreat ministry of Blackhawk Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and is situated on 360 acres of woodlands on the bluffs overlooking the Rock River.
When not hosting the Olde English Faire, the Center offers facilities for overnight retreats, summer camps, leadership development programs and outdoor recreation and education programs.
Walter Strong, owner and publisher of the Chicago Daily News, and his family built the Castle as a vacation home in 1928. It was purchased by a group of Presbyterian Churches in 1962 and is the centerpiece of the conference center.
Stronghold is located two miles north of the Ogle County Courthouse Square on Ill. 2. Due to ongoing construction on Ill. 2 between Oregon and Byron, visitors must come through Oregon and then travel north to the Stronghold entrance. That portion of the construction project has been completed.
If you are coming from the north, follow the detour signs once you get to Byron.
www.strongholdcenter.org.
