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Ted Bowman is accustomed to serving people wine where he works at the Fort Wine Co., but only once a year do his customers sport swords and velvet hats with feathers.

The winery's community relations coordinator looks forward to this weekend, when he serves as the pubmaster at the B.C. Renaissance Festival taking place at Aldor Acres.

The third annual renfest July 17-19 is set in 1510 at a place called Steller's Grove, and offers the public an array of performers typical of medieval times, including musicians, dancers, children's performers, falconers, combatants jousting and more. Bowman will oversee the Frog and Fiddle Pub.

"I think it's a natural fit," he said about being part of the festival.

The Fort winery makes fruit wines. Such beverages were a staple of life 500 years ago.

The pub will also serve ale and beer from Langley's own Dead Frog Brewery.

He will also be serving up mead, both dry and sweet, from Campbell's Gold. Mead is an alcohol made by fermenting honey and water. It was the cola of that age.

And Bowman recommends that anyone wanting to try it should not dally. The supply last year ran out on the first day.

"Mead was a fast mover," he said.

More of the drink was ordered for this year and still more put on standby, but mead is not something readily available. It takes longer to produce.

Bowman noted there will be roasted turkey legs for sale, as well but non-medieval fare will also be available.

The festival features choreographed fights, dramatic and comedic vignettes and action throughout the event site.

But fear not. Bowman noted that villagers like him who have festival badges on their lapels are the ones to ask for updates on the storyline.

Bowman will be doing more than just pouring drinks.

He has been included in the storyline and portrays William McNabb, who despite the surname, is Irish and assumed the name as he exacts revenge against those who seperated him from his sweetheart and stole his former eastablishment.

"In his position as publican, he listens for loose lips," Bowman said.

Anyone who knows Bowman should remember to address him as McNabb.

"When we arrive at the site, we go into the characters and stay in them," he explained.

Bowman took part in the festival last year and gladly signed on again. Even some of his staff will be working the festival tavern.

Staff staying back at the 84th Avenue winery are looking for costumes so they can dress up for customers.

In addition to lining up beverages akin to what people drank in medieval times, Bowman's been doing some research into costuming, British history, language (expect lots of 'thee', 'thou' and 'thine') and even architecture, building a festival vendor booth in the style of that era.

hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com