Companie di Bjornstad - Midsummer Medieval Festival 2015


	Companie di Bjornstad Midsummer Medieval Festival Castello di Amorosa - The Lake -
	Bjornstad has been an annual part of the Midsummer Medieval Festival presented by the Castello di Amorosa winery in California's fabulous Napa valley. The owner, Dario Sattui, was bent on creating a totally authentic environment incorporating every element of a real 12th - 13th century Tuscan castle. The Castello offers a feast with a variety of succulent foods and its own wines. There's authentic medieval music, dance, minstrels, jugglers, and period entertainment. In 2015, Companie di Bjornstad provided instruction in the sword and shield, training with bow and arrow and the chance to launch a stone at our own dragon from Bjornstad's authentic scaled-down reproduction of a Medieval trebuchet.

The Castello di Amorosa as seen from across Lake Mario	Audrey coordinates the festival

Bjornstad sets up the archery targets	Brian and Jack get waterborne - It's a Viking thing

Bjornstad claims the Castello island	American Idol - or not

Brian gives the native art a thumbs up	A deceptively tranquil dragon has been sighted on the lake

The dragon hunt is on...	Bjornstad - 1, Dragon - 0

The South end of a North-bound horse heralds the start of the festivities	The Companie di Bjornstad - ready for action

Annie bridges the gap before the guests arrive	Kayleigh and Sean join the requisite bridge posing

Melinda and Ed get Medieval	Ed is ready to coach the archers

The Loose-an-Arrow archery station	Yoko, Rick and John await the Castello's revelers

Sean and Kayleigh show off the pavilion	Susan rewards the archers with a scroll

Sean and Rick ready the trebuchet	Pull lanyard, loose stone

And the stone should splash down right about ...	Henrik the Valiant demonstrates the use of sword and shield

Henrik watches as a swordsman attacks	Melinda keeps her distance from the sword play

Ed, Jack and Brian are enjoying the day	Brian provides a little nocking instruction

Arrows away!	And if you're right handed...

Guests of the Castello di Amorosa will dine in the courtyard	Don't most feasts include food of some sort?

When do we eat?	The feast is on

Annie, Melinda and Ed approve the wine	The Great Hall is a perfect setting for a feast

The Orpheus West Choir is magnificent