The great reign of King Lewis the Wise came to an end at Friday’s Medieval Faire at Nile Garden School.

The reason for that is Tim Lewis, the seventh-grade teacher at Nile Garden School, is retiring at the end of the school year after 30 years.

“I let the students know this (Medieval Faire) is the last one so they won’t be shocked,” he said.

Of course, some of the younger students begged him to hold off his retirement plans.

But for his seventh graders, the 30th and perhaps final year of the Medieval Fair gave them a chance to experience this particular time period in history.

He started this living history lesson of life in Western Europe during the 9th and 15th centuries – a requirement for seventh graders – during his first year at the rural elementary school of the Manteca Unified School District.

“It was towards the end of the school year and we were already losing (the interest of) some the kids,” Lewis recalled.

Those early Medieval Faires paled in comparison to his more recent ones. The event grew over the years and soon “took on a life of its own,” he said.

Along the way, Lewis saw another generation of Nile Garden students follow in the footstep of their parents by also becoming participants of the Medieval Faire. “One of our students, Natalia, had both of her parents (do this Nile Garden event),” Lewis said.

Students once again dressed for the event, wearing the costume that fit the time period – Nile Garden accumulated its fair share of costumes from the previous Medieval Faires.

"It has been a wonderful 30 years, and I have had the time of my life doing this," Lewis shared.. "I’ve had the privilege of watching these students not only learn about history but experience it in a way that sticks with them for a lifetime."

Since 1995, Lewis has guided his students on a journey back in time to the medieval period, using immersive learning, creativity, and heart. Through role-playing, interactive exhibits, and historical reenactments, students actively engage with key aspects of medieval society, including art, literature, government, and social structures.

The Medieval Faire allows students to experience history firsthand, making it an event that is as educational as it is memorable.

Among those celebrating the milestone was Nile Garden’s Vice Principal Alejandra Lopez, who shared her personal connection to the event:

“Once upon a time, 24 years ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Medieval Faire as a 7th grade student at Nile Garden as ‘Lady Rosalie,” Lopez said. “This experience brought history to life as I got to work collaboratively with my group on creating a manor. It was truly delightful to witness the creativity of my classmates through dancing, jousting, and juggling.”

“ This experience instilled in me a deep appreciation for the visual and performing arts in education. I strive to empower students to communicate confidently, think critically, and engage fully in their learning. I believe Mr. Lewis contributed significantly to my own growth 24 years ago, and I hope to do the same for my students.”

Over the years, the Medieval Faire has become one of Nile Garden’s most cherished and longstanding traditions, inspiring countless students to connect with history in new and meaningful ways.

Many former students, some of whom are now educators themselves like Lopez, have credited the event with shaping their careers and inspiring their passion for teaching. The event continues to bring the Nile Garden community together, fostering a deep appreciation for the arts and hands-on learning.

The event’s festivities included a vibrant costume parade, medieval-style jousting, music, dancing, and the display of mural-sized tapestries created by the students. The faire is a culmination of months of work, where each student takes on a role, from knights and nobility to peasants and performers, all contributing to a detailed reenactment of medieval life.

The year-end Medieval Faire featured singing, dancing, juggling, jousting, and fencing.

The lunch time feast had seventh graders’ Audriana Uecker as Gwendolyn of Sheerwood and Dan-Junior Monmoto as Tom the Miliner had the honors of serving as queen and king.

“It’s been fun,” said Uecker, who enjoyed learning the dance steps along with dressing up for the event.

Both took pride at being perhaps being the final queen and king of the Nile Garden Medieval Faire.