‘Forged in Fire’ champion to be at Renaissance Festival

Chris Farrell, a season one winner of History Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” will join the celebration at the 2021 Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs.

Farrell is the owner of Fearghal Blades, a custom bladesmithing business based in Austin, Texas.

He competed in the 2015 premiere season of Forged in Fire, which challenges bladesmiths to create functional weapons under time and material constraints. He defeated three competitors with his production of a traditional Indian throwing weapon called a Chakram.

Farrell started Fearghal Blades in 2011. He produces custom, handmade items and offers demonstrations of his craft around the country.

The Kansas City Renaissance Festival will be open weekends from Sept. 4 to Oct. 17, plus Labor Day (Sept. 6) and Monday, Oct. 11. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. this weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day.

Tickets are $20.95 per adult online in advance and $12.50 per child online. Tickets at the gate are $23.95 per adult and children 5 to 12, $14.95. Senior or student tickets are $21.25 per person. There is free admission for children 4 and younger.

Tickets and information are available at www.kcrenfest.com.

Scenes from Tiblow Days 2021

Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders marched in the Tiblow Days parade on Saturday. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Bonner Springs celebrated Tiblow Days with a parade and festival this weekend. Sponsored by the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce, the event featured a 5k run, car show, carnival, and concert. Despite the hot weather, a large and enthusiastic crowd turned out.

Events run through Saturday evening.

The Bonner Springs High School marching band played in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Kansas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt marched in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Bonner Springs councilman Bob Reeves rode a scooter. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Wyandotte County 4-H Horse Project rode in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School football team rode on a flatbed truck. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Students at the White Tiger taekwondo dojo performed in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Izcalli folklore dance group performed in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School football team will start its season next weekend. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

King of the Renaissance Festival Bryan Atkins marched in the parade. The Renaissance Festival starts next weekend in Bonner Springs. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish fraternal group, marched in the parade. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

A 1956 Thunderbird at the Tiblow Days car show. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Families enjoyed the carnival rides together. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Friends enjoyed the carnival rides together. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Admirers strolled the car show grounds to check out their favorites. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Many vintage cars made their appearance at the Tiblow Days car show. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

A beer garden provided refreshing beverages. The beer garden was run by Outfield Brewing Company of Edwardsville and Own Agenda, a soon-to-open brewery in Bonner Springs. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders performed at the park pavilion. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Izcalli folklore dance group performed at the park pavilion. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Students from the Premiere Dance and Performing Arts performed at the park pavilion. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Clark Middle School cheerleaders performed at the park pavilion. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Master Gardeners to hold training in September

Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardener Training is open for registration until Sept. 1.

Any Wyandotte County resident with an interest in horticulture may apply for the Extension Master Gardener program. The program is for those who want to improve their skills and knowledge, and who like to work with people.

The training program will be held Sept. 21 to Nov. 2 at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 630 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs. The class could potentially be on Zoom.

The cost of the training is $125, which includes all training materials and classes.

Applications for the program are online at https://www.wyandotte.k-state.edu/program_areas/lawn-garden/mastergardener/index.html. For information, contact Lynn Loughary, horticulture agent, 913-299-9300, Ext. 104, [email protected].