Don your bonnets and top hats, fasten your waistcoat over your frilly shirt, and pull out your turn-of-the-19th-century skates — Fort George is throwing a Regency Skating Party.
This Saturday, Jan. 5, between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., the ice rink at Fort George will likely look like a superimposition of eras, with people garbed in period dress gliding alongside those who have just come for a regular skate.
Peter Martin, the fort’s event co-ordinator, says the idea for the party came from a chat with a couple of re-enactors. “We weren’t sure at first if there would be enough interest, but we quickly realized there were plenty of people wanting to participate,” he says.
There will be a Regency-era costume contest held on the rink between 4:30 and 5 p.m., where — as in a dance marathon — people will be tapped on the shoulder as they are eliminated until there are only four skaters left. Prizes will go to the most accurate and/or creative outfits, one to each gender in two categories: reenactors, and amateurs (non-reenactors).
Parks Canada’s Scott Finlay — as General Isaac Brock — will be judging. Prizes come from local businesses, and value between $50 and $75.
Free skating will run as usual between 10 a.m. and noon, following which the ice will be flooded and cleaned. At 1 p.m. the sound system will drop the pop and play classical music from the early 19th century. Anyone is welcome to skate until the contest begins, but period “kit” is recommended.
“We don’t use the word ‘costume’ out of respect for those who wore these uniforms originally,” explains Martin. “They risked and occasionally lost their lives in these clothes, so we take them quite seriously.”
He continues to describe a few of the pieces. “Some of these coats are worth thousands of dollars — the buttons are real gold.” Martin says many people sew their own period gear, or have it custom-made. “You can’t go to Walmart and buy this stuff.”
Martin does suggest some creative ways to create your own kit: Wear a white frilly shirt with the collar up, wrap a black scarf snugly around your neck, and voila, you’re so Regency. Add some narrow pants and a vest, and top it off with a convincing replica of a top hat, and you might be a winner. For those of the feminine persuasion, Martin recommends large hats or bonnets, long dresses and perhaps a “fur-ish” coat. He suggests making your own pantaloons: “Put some shorts on top of long johns and pin them together — ta da.”
The Regency period is late 1700s to early 1800s. “Think War of 1812,” says Martin.
To enhance the theme, carriage rides (provided by Sentineal Carriages) will be offered for free between the fort and the rink. The Agora, on the grounds of Fort George, will feature a live pianist, as well as a “photo booth” with an authentic early-19th century sleigh. The booth will have a backdrop and trees, and props like top hats, bonnets and blankets. Fort staff will provide printed photos using their apparatus, and will gladly snap your pic with your own device as well.
The fort will be hosting various demonstrations in keeping with the topic, including a display and discussion of Regency-era musical instruments at 1 p.m.; a presentation on the history of hot chocolate, tea, and coffee at 2 p.m.; the history of skates and skating with Scott Finlay (as General Isaac Brock) at 3 p.m., and a talk on Regency wear and fashion show at 4 p.m. “We’re happy to do something that links the rink to the fort,” says Martin.
Musket demonstrations are planned for every hour on the half hour, “because we’re a fort — we have to go bang,” says Martin, who at 43 has been working for Parks Canada at various forts for 25 years.
Friends of Fort George member Rick Meloen has threatened to wear his own period skates. In that era, skates were a single narrow blade, often with a comically curved tip, attached to the bottom of a shoe with leather straps.
Skating is free all day, as usual. Admission to the fort is (always) free for those 17 and under; regular admission fees apply for all others. Regularly scheduled Saturday evening skating will resume at 6 p.m.
