Ice Castles

Ice Castles 2026/Legend of Yuki-Onna
(2026-01-24 – Site opens at 8am & Closes at 8pm)
Hosted by the Barony of Black Diamond

Description:

Ring in the Baronial Birthday and New Year by celebrating the winter season in beautiful Lynchburg, VA. Our celebration focuses on the Japanese spirit of Winter, known as Yuki-Ona or the “Snow Woman.” We will have a traditional Japanese poetry class along with cooking demonstrations ahead of our wonderful feast, which is being prepared by the same team that brought you the feast at Missile Madness. Our A&S and Martial competitions are still being developed, but we will keep you informed as we head further into fall.

*Note* Volunteers are needed at Gate, MoL, and the Kitchen. If you wish to participate please contact one of these individuals to assist! Contact details are at the bottom of the page, thank you.

Cost:

Day-TripFeastCamping
Adult, Member Discount Event Registration20130
Adult, Event Registration30130
Youth (6 – 17)10130
Child (0-5)0130

Reservationist/ Regestrar Name: Adair of Maykswell
Reservationist Email: Adairofmakyswell@gmail.com

Checks Payable To: SCA, Inc. Barony of Black Diamond

Cost Notes:
Pre-registration will take place solely through SCORES (SCA.org ) On-site registrations will be available and payable directly to the Barony via cash or check only. Note: Feast will only be available through pre-registration on SCORES. However if there are feast slots open on event day, then those will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Refunds:
The Exchequer must receive refund requests in writing no later than seven days after the event ends per Kingdom approved guidelines. No refund shall be issued until the event books have been closed and all reservation checks have cleared. 

Heavy Fighting:
3-Person Bear Pit: wounds retained, anyone dying on winning team gets replaced by next in line (so team memberships change rather constantly). Max survivorship streak five fights (per person).
Pick Ups

Rapier:
11:30-13:00 2v2 shark pit, 1v1s will be reset
13:00-14:00 Queen’s Tea
14:00-15:00 Pick Ups

Archery:
Info coming soon!

A&S:
Ice Castles in Japan?! You bet!
Come take a journey with us to the far east where the pacific meets the shores of Tokyo to the sky-scraping mountains of Nagano. This year we will dive into the secretive world of the snow princess Yuki- Onna. Was she a real inspiration? A walking myth? Or just Japanese lore. We have set a challenge for those inclined to partake in this year’s Ice Castles for food, art and clothing.
We challenge you to create an article of clothing to keep warm, a food dish to sustain you through the cold Japanese winter or art that will inspire you till spring. We will have a competition champion for these entries.
Continuing with our theme- We will have an open calligraphy station set up all day for anyone to come and create Japanese inspired scrolls for the barony. All scrolls will be retained for baronial use and the winner for most excellent scroll will be named “Scroll master.”

Feast:

Lunch:
Chicken Fried Rice  
Sunomono (cucumber salad)

Feast:
Japanese Pickled Vegetables 
Goma-ae (Blanched Spinach salad with Sesame dressing)
Oyakodon (Chicken and egg simmered in a savory-sweet broth served over rice)

Alternate for fish/seafood allergies:
Gluten Free Chicken Teriyaki rice bowl  

Dessert:
Steamed Red Bean Buns 
Seasonal Fruit in a Honey, Lemon and Mint Dressing

If you require a Gluten-Free or No Fish/Seafood meal, please sign up at the link below:
Accomodation Sign up Sheet

Schedule:
SATURDAY 1/24/2026

8:00 AM – Gate Opens – Foyer

9:00 AM –
Weapons Check-in and Authorizations – Fields
Archery and Thrown Weapons Open – Back Fields
Tent Set Up – Front Field

9:45 AM – Arts & Sciences Opens with Competitions – Conference Room

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM – Morning Court – Main Hall

11:30 AM –
Fighting Begins with Competitions for Rapier and Heavy Combat – Fields
Lunch Served – Main Building
A&S Class: Newcomers 101 by Baroness Asta knarrarbringa (1130-1230)

12:30 PM – A&S Class: Renga (Collaborative Japanese Poetry) by Master Hagar the Black (1230-130)

1:00 PM –
Gate Closed – Foyer
Queen’s Tea with Academie Gathering – Main Hall

1:30PM – A&S Class: Introduction to Goldwork by Mistress Adair of Makyswell (130-230)

3:00 PM – Art & Sciences, Fields, Ranges, Vendors Close – Please pick up your items and/or clean your area

4:00 PM – 5:15 PM – Evening Court – Main Building

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Evening Feast, Socializing, and Bardic with Kitchen Cleanup – Main Building and Fields

9:00 PM – Site Closes

Merchants: TBD

Site Info

Site Name:
Boonsboro Ruritan Club

Address:
1499 Coffee Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24503

Directions:
From Lynchburg Regional Airport you turn left onto U29 (Wards Rd) and keep right on US-29 for .2 miles. Exit left onto US-501 North in 2.2 miles then take a slight right turn for US-501 North in 1 mile. In 4.7 miles turn left onto PFC Desmond T Doss Memorial Expressway and in 1.2 miles take a slight right turn onto Wiggington Rd. In 2.6 miles turn right onto Hawkins Mill Rd and in .4 miles turn left onto Coffee Rd. In .4 miles turn right onto Bradley L Gaertner Place and the destination will be on your right for Boonsboro Ruritan Club. 

Restrictions:
No alcohol, open fire pits, golf carts or weapons allowed on premises. 

Accessibility:
Access to the main building is ADA compliant but the grounds may not be due to slopes and uneven terrain. 

Staff:

  • Event Steward – Edward Perry – jbrice1982@gmail.com
  • Deputy Event Steward – Mistress Asta Knarrarbringa – Baronessasta@gmail.com
  • Feast Coordinator – Katrina of Black Diamond – katvark71@gmail.com
  • Gate Keeper/Reservationist – Catherine King – adairofmakyswell@gmail.com
  • Minister of the Lists – Dame Juliana Grene – aumalthia@gmail.com
  • Marshal in Charge – Sir Dubhghall mac Donnchaidh – profstewart@gmail.com