The time period is brought to life with a combination of jousts, medieval food, celtic music and costumed villagers. The temporal transportation that Safrit experiences is provided by some of Salisbury’s own talent, including 17-year-old Shea Walker.

Though she has attended the festival for five years now, this is Walker’s second year working with the cast. “Ifound auditions last year and was chosen and came again this year,” she says.

Last year, Walker was a street actor, working with the crowd. But like an apprentice who graduates to journeyman or master during the Renaissance, Walker graduated as well.

She is now one of the festival’s dancers.

“We’re with the Queen’s Capers Morris Dancers,”Walker says. “It’s traditional English dance.”

Performing with Walker is one of her friends, Evan Bloom, 17, of China Grove.Bloom provides music for Walker and the other dancers throughout the day, playing both the mandolin and guitar.

“I’ve been playing with a couple of musicians and really enjoyed that,”Bloom says, “jamming with them between sessions.”

It’s not unusual for the music or any other event to be interrupted by Armag Guddon (pronounced armageddon). Brought to life by James Hamnons, 20, of Salisbury, Armag Guddon is the local doomsayer.

Explaining his character, Hamnons says, “Basically I warn people of their impending doom and apocalypse.”

It might sound like a frightening scenario, but Hamnons’ messages of doom make it fun.“I might walk up to an old person and say he’ll die of the ripe old age of 20,” he says, laughing.

It’s the interaction with the guests that Hamnons enjoys. “You get to meet all these new people and talk in an interesting accent,”he says. “It’s loads of fun.”

Brad Hodges, 18, also of Salisbury,greets visitors as soon as they step into the fantasy realm the festival provides.

“If I can make a suggestion,” he says while pointing down the path to the rest of the village, “everything’s down that way.”