Windy Castle Medieval Faire plans bloody fun at Murder Under the Big Top fundraiser

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You can help solve a murder under the big top, unless you’re the murderer.Curtis Jestin, John Hedinghan, MIchelle Couper,  Stephanie Snider and Donedin Jackson prepare to kill clown Juanita DeVos in preparation for The Murder Under the Big Top. Photo by Richard Amery
 The Windy Castle Medieval Faire is excited to present their third interactive murder mystery at the Westminster Community Centre (411 16 St. North) by No Frills, Saturday, April 13.


“There’s no excuse not to come. After all, who doesn’t want to run away with the  circus,” chuckled organizer Juanita  DeVos, dressed in her home made killer clown costume.
 Organizers are pulling out all the stops, bringing in a mini-midway, circus treats, clowns and acrobats.


 Everybody who joins the fun gets to play a character. You can choose which as well as how big of a role you want to play in the production.
“There are 80 different characters up for grabs,” said organizer Michelle Couper, noting they range from all manner of circus folks to various circus animals.
Couper is excited about the games.
“ There will be eight or nine games like duck hunt, balloon pop, fishing, skee ball, ring toss and fish bowls,” she listed.


“ We have four garbage  bags full of stuffed animals to give away as prizes. And there will be midway food, popcorn, corn dogs,  cotton candy. We’re even making gluten free hotdogs on a stick,” Couper continued.


Local acrobatic troupe Le Cirque Venteaux, including Donedin Jackson, Curtis Jestin, Stephanie Snider and John Hedinghan will be performing at the  Murder Under the Bigtop to give a preview of their performance at the Faire this summer.Juanita DeVos is excited  for The Murder under the Big Top, April 13 at  Westminster Community Centre.  Photo by Richard Amery


 For the murder mystery portion of the evening, participants are invited to create their own costumes for the event.


“You can choose a character with less of a spotlight role,” she continued, adding they also need volunteer “carnies” to operate the games and food vendors.


The event is a fundraiser for this year’s third annual Windy Castle Medieval Faire, July 20 and 21 at their new location  on Highway 4 and Township Road 74.
“The goal of the Windy Castle Medieval Faire has always been to provide a family friendly event to get people  out of their homes and to have some fun. And who doesn’t love a circus,” added co-organizer Juanita DeVos, adding this fundraiser is an important event for the Faire as the proceeds pay for some of the Faire’s most fun activities including jousters.

“Everybody gets a character with some information. And they learn more about their character and the other characters as the night goes on. There are suggestions about their background and possible motives. It gives you an excuse to interact with other people,” DeVos described, adding after the murder everyone gets a littlJuanita Devos and Michelle Couer Do battle  in preparation for The Murder Under the Big Top.  Photo by Richard Amerye more information abut their characters and motivations.
“ It’s a lot of fun for everyone to come together with the common objective of solving the murder by listening for clues,” DeVos enthused, adding the group has organized two other murder mystery fundraisers.
“We did Once Upon an Ominous Fairy Tale, a fairy tale themed murder mystery the first year and A Killer St. Patrick’s Day last year,” she said.

 


 The money from this event will allow  Windy Castle to bring in the Tilt and Lance jousters from Calgary. So this event is really important for the Faire.
 They are excited abut this year’s Windy Castle Medieval Faire at their new location.


“ It’s a new location on Hwy 4, Township Road 74. It’s right at the intersection The Fort Whoop Up Historical Society has  a new space tStephanie Snider, Michelle Couper, Juanita DeVos, Donedin Jackson and John Hedinghan  prepare to kill Curtis Jestin in preparation for The Murder Under the Big Top. Photo by Richard Ameryhere,” Couper said adding in addition to jousters, there will be fun for the whole family including  fire breathers Red Stag Viking reenactments, the Lethbridge Medieval club battling with swards and other medieval weapons, Lothar the Magician and storyteller Callen Scott.


Under the Big Top Characters cost $20 before April 12 and $25 at the door but ideally purchased in advance from http://www.windycastle.com. Tickets are also available  for cash at Coneybeare general store and mercantile downtown (422 6th Ave S) Doors open at 6 p.m.

 A version of this story appears in the April 3, 2019 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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