Bring out your Japanese clothing and crafts. Brush up on your martial skills. The Debatable Lands is holding a Japanese Iris Festival and Iron Comet Challenge at the Barn in Old Economy Park. This is a Japanese themed event. The Iron Comet Challenge includes heavy fighting, fencing, thrown weapons, and archery. It also includes an Arts and Sciences competition. All are welcome to compete in any tournament. Adults wishing to complete the challenge must compete in 3 of the 4 marshal activites, but they must participate in the A&S competiton. Youth wishing to complete in the challenge can omit two martial activities, but they must participate in the A&S competition.

In addition to the Iron Comet tournaments, there will also be an Arts and Sciences display where you can show your craft, but not complete. The medieval lawn games will also be running during the day for anyone who wants to play or watch. We are adding another treat as well. There will be an “Iron Apron” dessert competion. The organizer is Lady Arthes MacLeod. Details about the format, rules, and how to enter the competition will be published at a later date.

The date is Sunday May 24, 2026 and the site is the Barn at Old Economy Park, #5 Forcey Drive, Baden, PA 15005. Here is the location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1K2ZTiw4uqRvNu8i9. The site opens at 9 am and closes at 7pm. The autocrat for this event is Hara Shonagon , Sharon Booth, 1105 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, 412-441-1607 sbooth@sbooth.net. This is a land-line with an answering machine. Please leave a message. No calls after 9pm.

There is a scrumptious boxed lunch planned to keep with the Japanese Iris Festival theme. Lunch is an additional $6.00.

Make checks payable to SCA PA, Inc. – BMDL. The reservations clerk for this event is Forveleth Dunde, Miranda Gavrin, forveleth@gmail.com. Please pre-register using the online form especially if you want to reserve a bento box lunch. However, we ask that you pay at the door.

Additional note for the site: Alcohol allowed; however, glass bottles are not allowed.