6A Sunday, May 4, 2014 5P1 Standard-Examiner Aaron McMahon checks out a monocular Friday at the Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire in Marriott- Slaterville. DYLAN BROWN Standard-Examiner Magic From 1A will tell you a spongia is a Roman-era sponge on a stick. Members of the Colorado-based Order of the Azure Rose ordained brave and noble children as knights of the realm during the festival Friday. Though they weren't old enough to participate in the festival's 18-and- older Jousting Games Event, many of the kids did use their newly acquired knighthood to persuade their parents to deck them out with the child-size swords, shields and battle axes offered by vendors like Books & Boffers. With nearly 60 vendors and 27 entertainers, the festival had something for everyone. Parents listened to music and snacked on turkey legs, Cornish game hens and Scotch eggs (hardboiled eggs wrapped in spiced sausage, then breaded, baked and deep-fried) while their children ran around giving each other good- natured smacks with foam swords. Sue Bodily, co-owner of the festival, said she was inspired to start the Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire after visiting a Renaissance festival in Arizona. "I love history. I've always been fascinated with history; I probably should have been an anthropologist," she said. "When I went to the Renaissance fair in Arizona, I said to myself: Northern Utah needs something like that." Bodily said that, unlike Arizona's Renaissance fair, which is a permanent establishment, her fair is more akin to the temporary setups from the Renaissance era "This is what a real Renaissance fair from a bygone era would be like," Bodily said. "People pull in with their tents, set up and start selling their wares." The fair has five stages for entertainment, a mermaid pond complete with battling pirate ships on either side and, new this year, The Capering Ox Pub, "Mimorathe Mermaid," also known as Yazmine Tatiana, prepares herself for the cold water at the Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire in Marriott- Slaterville on Friday.The event continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 25. which was serving Wasatch beers. The Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 25. Proceeds from the event are going to support the animal-rescue organization Pack'N Pounce and the Intermountain Renaissance Arts Foundation, and to pay the local entertainers for their services. More information can be found on the Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire Facebook page or on the event's website at www.utahrenfest.com.