Nellysford visitors can experience history through games

Visitors in Nellysford will be able to travel back in time Saturday and play games that Queen Elizabeth I, Vikings and Shakespeare may have played.

The demonstration and chance to play several board and card games that were around in the Dark Ages, Middle Ages and the Renaissance is set for Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery in Nellysford .

Both the people teaching the games and winery staff will be dressed in period clothing.

The event is sponsored by the Society for Creative Anachronism, a worldwide educational nonprofit organization that focuses on recreating and researching the arts and skills of pre-17 th century Europe. It began in California in 1966 and has chapters all over the country, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa.

“It’ll be a fun day,” said Kimberly Pugh, the co-owner and wine maker of Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery. “People will get to participate. This group is very, very knowledgeable. They take this period of time seriously. It’s a lot of fun, especially if you like history.”

Three of the highlighted games are Primero, a card game that was played in Queen Elizabeth I’s court and considered to be the “mother of poker,” Hnefatafl, the Viking version of chess played in Northern Europe, the British Isles and Iceland, and Back-Gammon, a dice and checker game that dates back more than five thousand years.

People will be able to come and go as they please from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the winery at 2800 Berry Hill Road. The games will be set up in the winery’s banquet room. There is no fee to play the games and anyone can attend. There will be a $3 wine tasting coinciding with the games.

“This is a popular way for families to do something together,” Pugh said. She added the games provide entertainment and an educational experience for the kids and adults, while the wine and mead tasting is nice for those over 21.

This is not the first Society for Creative Anachronism event to be held at the winery. There have been several over the past few years, including belly dancers, singers and sword fights. This event was chosen because the group wanted a winter activity that could be done inside.

Pugh said the winery became involved with the educational organization a few years ago when the farm’s honey mead developed a following from several members of the organization.

“I love history,” she said. “I have so much fun when we do these events because you get to step back in time when you see these folks.”

Pugh said she is unsure of the expected turnout because a lot depends on weather. In the past, events sponsored by the organization have received a variety of visitors, with the summer events packing the parking lot.

Jeff Williams, a Society for Creative Anachronism media representative, said these events were good ways for people to learn about history.

“It gives people a chance to see history back then,” he said. “Most people don’t know what games were played back then. The board games and card games had different names and different styles of playing.”