Medieval Fair: Millions Of Dollars Pass Through Norman

There is no official word on the amount of money brought into Norman via the 33rd annual Medieval Fair this weekend, but judging from traffic on what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday, I'd guess millions if not tens of millions of dollars.

Rarely have I seen Lloyd Noble Center's parking lot so full.

The weather was all over the place with moderate temps on Friday, downright warm highs on Saturday and blustery and cool on Sunday. The wind was so stiff at times on Sunday, it was laborious just to be outside.

My favorite events or booths at the fair centered on scantily clad women, animals and food. The belly dancing was intriguing as usual, and there was even a belly dancer who was like 8 or 9 months pregnant. Videos of several of the activities will be posted in the next few days.

Kids were able to get camel rides, and the camels are just huge.

Last but not least, there was a ton of food at the fair, and I'm proud to say I resisted the Indian tacos and funnel cakes and smoked turkey legs, opting instead for a plate of Indian food from a Taste of India here in Norman, whose fare is always wonderful.

Read more on this article...

Get Your Weather Radio Programmed From 9-3 Saturday At Wal-Mart

Severe weather season is upon us, and it can be a life-or-death issue, particularly when it comes to the potential for nighttime tornadoes.

That's why every meteorologist recommends you have a weather radio.

But not just any weather radio -- one that is programmed with information for your locale. The problem is that it's not the easiest thing in the world to program these suckers.

That's why the city of Norman Office of Emergency Management has partnered with local Wal-Mart stores not only to offer weather radios at a discounted price but also to help you get them programmed.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at both Wal-Mart locations in Norman.

If you don't have a weather radio, you owe it to yourself to spend the money to get one. We're talking just a few dollars. This is a heck of an opportunity to get some help programming it while you're at the store.

Volunteer groups represented include: South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS), the Norman Emergency Response Volunteers, the University of Oklahoma’s Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (OU SCAMS), and the Cleveland County Medical Reserve CORPS.

Read more on this article...

Frensley 5k This Weekend

A few weeks ago I was running down Boyd Street, set to turn onto Classen. The railroad bars started to come down and I thought, "Hey, I can make that."

Then I remembered Blake Frensley, who apparently thought the same thing once. Except he didn't beat the train, and he lost his life.

In his honor, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity presents the 4th annual 5k run in his honor Saturday. It starts at 9 a.m. in front of their house at 800 Chautauqua. $23 day-of registration, and it looks like you get a shirt.

Unfortunately,their site doesn't have much information, including a course map. But you can make a pretty attractive and flat course up around fraternity row.

If you've done this race, let us know in the comments what you think of the organization and the course.

Read more on this article...

Guide To 33rd Annual Medieval Fair Of Norman April 3-5

The largest weekend event in the state of Oklahoma is being prepped for the 33rd time in Norman as the Medieval Fair kicks off Friday.

Dedicated to recreating the Middle Ages with a wide variety of expos and entertainment, the Norman fair is listed by the Events Media Network as one of the top 100 events in the nation.

Admission is free, and the fair's hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you happen to go and would like us to post your photos or videos, we'd be glad to. Just e-mail us at thenormanfiles@gmail.com.

If you're curious about the weather for the weekend, initial forecasts have Friday's high at 68, Saturday's at almost 80 and Sunday back down in the 50s. Definitely some varied weather.

In the interim, here is some information and media about this year's fair:

How to get here:

MedievalFair.org directions

Google map

Yahoo! map

How about a map of the fair itself? The Norman Transcript put this one together. Pretty cool.

2009 Stage Schedule:

Friday's schedule

Saturday's schedule

Sunday's schedule

I've been to the Medieval Fair several times and have always stuffed my face with lots of calorie-rich goodness. However, if you'd like to come into Norman for some dinner or to hang out somewhere or, heck, even spend the night, the Norman Convention and Visitor's Center has put together a heck of an online resource with links.

As popular as the Medieval Fair is, you know tons of people have already documented it over the years with video. Here's a link to some of the videos we found:

- Watch the Rogues perform

- Video done for Norman Public Schools

- Juggling acrobats wielding FIRE!

However, this video by a couple of guys from back in 2006 was by a mile the best out there. Not only does it capture the spirit of the fair, the activities and food available, but it also captured the joie de vivre of the event and the friendliness of Norman:

Read more on this article...