From the fae of Celtic folklore to the storybook tales of England, from Norse mythology to the curiosities of the Victorian-era circus, a new event will transport visitors to legendary worlds when it debuts next spring.

The newly established Legends, Origins and Realms Education, Inc. nonprofit will present "Echoes of Lore" in April in the Coeur d'Alene Area. Created and co-directed by veteran renaissance faire organizers Matthew and Anira Harrison, Echoes of Lore will be the culmination of more than five years of planning and 18 years of ren faire leadership and experience.

Echoes of Lore will be more than a ren faire; it will be an in-depth educational experience that delves into the myths, legends and beliefs that shaped historical Western European societies.

"We want to create an event that is so involved in the magic it changes people’s souls," Anira told The Press in an Oct. 6 interview. "We want it to be a genuinely immersive experience."

Matthew and Anira's own lore began in the renaissance faire scene in Wenatchee.

"We fell in love," Anira said. "I married a faire director, that’s how I got roped into this."

That love blossomed into a partnership that would take them to ren faires throughout the region, building friendships and community as they created imaginative and educational worlds.

"We have a lot of people from a lot of political and religious backgrounds," Anira said, discussing the inclusiveness of ren faire life. "You can be who you really are, not who society tells you you have to be."

Echoes of Lore will feature five unique “realms” that represent different mythic and cultural roots. Guests will find themselves in an ancient world where legends live, magic breathes and learning happens through participation.

“It will feel more like you stumbled through a gateway to an ancient village where the legends have come back to life,” Anira said in a September news release.

“You can explore, shop, be entranced by an old man's stories and find yourself belonging in one of the five realms," she said. "This event will be highly curated to make these realms come to life. We have been brainstorming this event for years and we are so honored to have such an overflowing show of support from within the greater renaissance faire community.”

In addition to being a cultural and educational experience, one of the main goals of Echoes of Lore will be to train a core group of volunteers in creating immersive experiences, event logistics and fostering a passion for volunteerism — skills that can then be utilized at other nonprofit and community events across the region.

Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of positions including ticket takers, parking lot attendants and people to work the information booth as well as costumed roles throughout the realms.

Info: echoesoflore.com

    Ellen Fredrickson, a merchant from Darkest Night Candles, is seen at the Cup 'n Coin tankard booth at the Sandpoint Ren Faire in June. In a game of Cup 'n Coin, a player gives $1 for a coin, then tosses the coin toward the cups/tankards to potentially buy a tankard or faire cup. This is one example of the activities that will be at Echoes of Lore next spring.
  

    Ian Knemeyer, the son of a volunteer, is seen at the Two Rivers Medieval Faire in Cashmere, Wash. in May. Coeur d'Alene will be the site of a new immersive renaissance faire event, Echoes of Lore, in April.