Sails and Sagas Festival celebrates nautical lore in Sidney

The inaugural Sails and Sagas Festival took place at Iroquois Park in Sidney on August 29 and 30, celebrating the history and lore of vikings and pirates. Organized by Alison Spokes, owner of 4 Wands Faerie Events, the event adopted a Renaissance-fair style to explore nautical themes.

Activities included an inflatable axe-throwing station, a mermaid pool, live museums, and 65 vendor booths. Spokes noted that the choice of pirates and vikings was intended to provide a different experience from previous fantasy-themed fairs, highlighting the unique historical impacts and styles of these groups. The first festival attracted more than 2,000 attendees.