A BLAST from the past will provide a boost to the Bay.
Knights will brush shoulders with falconers and clowns at a free two day medieval event which will be held in Rhos on Sea on August 6 and 7.
The weekend of swordfighting, fire breathing and revelry was the brainchild of the men behind the Coastal Hawks Project, which until recently saw professional handlers patrol Colwyn Bay in a bid to scare away seagulls.
Mike Espley, one of the organisers, said: “It will be a really good weekend, and it will provide a boost Rhos in the holiday season.
“It will feature the Hawk Lords of Glyndwr, the Freelance Knights of Redemption from Ireland, who are more than re-enacters as they practice broadsword fighting as a martial art, Harley the clown who will juggle and fire eat, as well as face painting, Irish bagpipes and circus workshops.”
The medieval experience will be free to all comers, thanks to a successful bid to the Colwyn Bay Council participatory budget, which will provide £5,200 toward the event.
Cllr John Oddy of Rhos on Sea said: “I think it’s a great idea. Anything that’s for the community is good. People chose it in the budget so that’s what they want. I’m all for it and the wife and I will be nipping along.
The Coastal Hawks Project, which suffered a blow in April when Denbighshire and Conwy Council stopped funding the gull-scaring initiative, is also set to soar to new heights with plans for a new tourist attraction.
Designs for a permanent medieval attraction in the shadow of Conwy castle have been submitted for planning permission.
If the bid goes through, construction will start on a siege village featuring tents, authentic displays and surrounded by a palisade wall.
Mr Espley said: “We will have a weathering lawn where the birds will stay during the day and a mews for where they are kept overnight. There will be displays of equipment, with an armoury, cooking utensils - a sort of living history. All staff will wear medieval costume and tents available to local traders, such as wood carvers and wool makers.”