East Kingdom Twelfth Night and Baronial Investiture
Hosted by Barony of Smoking Rocks - New Bedford, MA
Event date: January 10th, 2026
Event Last Modified: January 4th, 2026
Event details
As winter’s chill gives way to revelry, the Kingdom is also gathering to honor Twelfth Night in the gracious company of Their Royal Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses. Join the laughter and comradery in the warmth of friends and chosen family.
A full day of enjoyment is planned. A hearty dayboard will be offered to sustain all good gentles throughout the day’s festivities. Our cooks of the Iron Wolf Tavern are preparing a generous and flavorful repast sure to please both traveler and courtier alike. The site is discreetly damp. (No modern containers, please). There will be games, youth activities, merchants, and a display of the Arts & Sciences. Join us in fellowship, merriment, and opportunities to share in the joy of our Barony’s newest chapter.
Menu
SOUPS:
Beef and onion soup (beef, onions, beef base, butter & spices*)
Vegetable & lentil soup- (onions, carrots, lentils, celery, spinach, veg base & spices*, **)
MEATS:
Smoked Chicken – mixed spices*
Baked Chicken - mixed spices*
Garlic Studded Pork Loin – garlic cloves and spices*
Smoked Sausage – commercially made sausage
Gruel – beef, onions, oats, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, & clove).
SIDE DISHES:
Apples & Onions – butter & spices*
Honey Baked Carrots – honey, butter, & spices*
Bread & Various butters (honey, garlic, & regular)
Cheese (variety of hard chesses)
Eggs (boiled)
Hummus with pita – chickpeas, roasted garlic, sesame paste, olive oil, lemon, and spices*
Tzatziki dip – cucumber, Greek yogurt, garlic, dill, lemon and spices*
Roasted Green Beans – parmesan, garlic, panko breadcrumbs, and spices*
*Salt, pepper, garlic & onion (for most dishes)
**Bay leaf
Schedule
Gate opens at 10am and closes at 330pm
Morning Court at 11am
Day Board starts at 12pm to 330pm
A&S Display 12pm-3pm
Evening Court at 4pm
Athena's Thimble Panel and Children Activities to be Scheduled soon!
Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary. Hand Sanitizer will be available.
Site Opens: 10 AM
Site Closes: 6 PM
Event Website
https://smokingrocks.eastkingdom.org/east-kingdom-twelfth-night-and-baronial-investiture/
Event Location
New Bedford Masonic Temple
435 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Google Map
The event site is accessible per the East Kingdom Accessibility Porter's Checklist.
Directions:
Do you delight in old houses, especially those grand Sea Captains’ homes that have found new life as Masonic Lodges in historic whaling cities? Of course you do!
Our event site is one such gem, full of character and charm. Please note that it is located in the heart of the city, and as such, parking is primarily on city block metered spaces (no fees on Saturdays). We are currently in negotiations for access to a nearby parking lot to provide additional space. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
The building’s layout has a certain “Fawlty Towers” charm, with narrow staircases and winding corridors. We kindly ask for everyone’s patience and cooperation in keeping foot traffic moving smoothly throughout the day.
An elevator is available and has access to all floors for those who require it; further details can be found in the Site Accessibility Checklist: https://smokingrocks.eastkingdom.org/accessibility-porter-checklist/
New Bedford Masonic Temple
435 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
https://www.google.com/maps/place/455+County+St,+New+Bedford,+MA+02740/@41.634742,-70.9344035,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e4e38d27d74ccf:0xde591bb657484fe!8m2!3d41.634742!4d-70.9318286!16s%2Fg%2F11c21rhvvw?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEwNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Registration Fees
Registration:
$25 for Adult Non-Members (SCA Members receive a discount of $10)
Attendees under 18 are Free
If your child is age 12-17 and wants dayboard, we are charging an $8 youth dayboard fee.
Feast:
Please note that the dayboard is limited to 300 reservations. To ensure your place at table, we kindly ask that you pre-register to guarantee your plate.
There is no feast. There are a wide variety of excellent restaurants and craft brew pubs in the area. We will have a local guide available at Troll by QR Code or printed copy.
Make Checks Payable to: SCA - MA INC.- Barony of Smoking Rocks
Contact Information
Event Steward:
Kenneth Howe
213 Central Ave
New Bedford, MA 02745
27194@members.eastkingdom.org
508 345-0174
Send Reservations to:
Kenneth Howe
213 Central Ave
New Bedford, MA 02745
Paypal Link:
https://surveys.eastkingdom.org/index.php/563696
Other Contact Information:
On this day we celebrate our New Baron and Baroness the Baronial Arts & Sciences Champion will be hosting a A&S Display. Due to site restrictions, we are unable to allow any food or beverage items in the AS area at this time. Any questions can be directed to Octavia Verita at 262218@members.eastkingdom.org
Merchant Co-Ordinator: Master Yosef Alaric. Email: jonathan@sc2.com
We have received permission from the New Bedford School Department to use their parking area for the event. The school administration office is at 455 County Street, New Bedford, MA, on the same block as the Masonic Lodge, on the other side of the Bristol County Superior Courthouse. There are approximately 99 spaces along the perimeter of the school admin building all along Court St. and Morgan St. and we can park in any available spaces in the perimeter of the building as well as the small lot in the courtyard of the admin building. (See areas marked in green on the map).
There is also an overflow school department lot on Morgan St. with an additional 40 or so spaces. Please do not park in the lots for the funeral home, the church, or Wamsutta Club as you will get towed. The entrance to the school lot is next to a bright yellow & green house (37 Morgan St.) so make sure you enter the correct lot.
There is signage all over the school department parking areas saying parking is prohibited; so although we have the school department's permission to use their lots, we strongly suggest putting a sign on your dashboard saying "Attending event at Masonic Lodge" and your cell phone number just in case traffic cops don't get the memo and get overzealous.
There are also spaces (parking is free on Saturdays so don’t worry about feeding the meter) all along County St., in front of the school department, as well as along Court Street & Union Street heading down to the waterfront.
The spaces at the Masonic Lodge and the Courthouse are reserved for attendees with state-issued handicap placards that have reached out, event staff, and Royals so we ask that other attendees please park at the school department lots.
Hotel Rooms for EK 12th Night
Smoking Rocks has arranged for a block of rooms to be set aside at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New Bedford, 185 Macarthur Drive, New Bedford, MA, for EK 12th Night / Smoking Rocks Investiture. The hotel is 1 mile from the event site (4 minutes by car or 20 minute walk), located on the waterfront with ample parking and complementary Wi-Fi and Continental breakfast daily.
SCAdians can book either rooms (with 2 queen beds) or suites at a discount rate of $129 per night on Friday, 1/9/26, and Saturday, 1/10/26, by calling the hotel directly at 774-634-2000 and mentioning that they're with the Society for Creative Anachronism, or booking online at this link:
https://www.marriott.com/event.../reservation-link.mi ...
Last day to reserve rooms under this block is 1/5/2026.
Please contact Smoking Rocks Seneschal Baroness Molly Blythe at
143894@members.eastkingdom.org if you have any difficulties with the hotel bookings.