As part of the UMN Morris first-year intellectual community class, Fairies and Warriors: Medieval Legends and Fictions, students host a mini medieval Renaissance festival at the Morris public library. This annual community-engaged learning event is based on the students’ ideas in coordination with input from Professor Lisa Bevevino. Stations are set up for people to move around to and explore the many facets of medieval times. Participants don medieval costumes and give dramatic readings of fairy tales from that time. Catering to all ages, the event offers a wide variety of different activities with a historical basis and is kid-friendly. Generally, up to 100 people from the community attend.
Bevevino sees the event as a time when first-year students can get inspiration to study what they want to study and take that back into the community and inspire people.
“There’s nothing better than connecting back with the people who are supporting you as you go off to get your education,” says Bevevino.
Alumna Olivia Kingston ‘23 had this to say about her experience hosting the mini medieval Renaissance festival: “Meeting people from the community and being a part of something that could continue on after I’ve graduated, such a fun way to connect.”