Get Ye Yonder to the Renaissance Faire

A Knight in Shining Armor.

Good Morrow. If ye have never been to a Renaissance fair than I suggest that ye do so because it is quite the Merry time! Some friends, who are long time (like 30+ years) "Ren. Fair" attendees, took me to the opening weekend festivities in Harveysburg, Ohio this past weekend. There is mirth and merry at every turn and combined with good food, incredible artisans, talented entertainers and exciting and daring feats on the jousting field you just can't go wrong.

Marketplace.

The village has a large variety of artisans selling and demonstrating their crafts. Glassblowers, leather crafters, jewelry and crowns, ironwork, swords and weapons, helmets and shields, candles, soaps, and oils, woodcraft and brooms, furs and antlers, so many unique items. Of course you can find clothing from dresses to bodices, capes and hats. If you don't want to buy you can try on Renaissance clothing and have your picture taken. Food wise you can walk around munching on a roasted turkey leg or an ear of corn, enjoy a bread bowl full of hearty beef stew, or grab a steak on a stake! I enjoyed a large baked potato stuffed with all the fixings. There are games and rides, you can drench a wench or watch May Pole dancers or sing songs while enjoying a mead or ale. Why not do it all?

Maypole dancers.

 

 There are 12 stages with entertainment going on all day. We enjoyed the Kamikaze Fireflies- a high energy duo who did juggling, acrobatics and made us laugh with their jokes and antics they played on audience members. We also enjoyed the bawdy humor of the Washing Wenches and the wonderful songs and harmony of the Wenches A Wailing group.

By far the most daring and exciting was the jousting which we saw twice. The Knights of Valour led by Shane Adams World Champion and the host of Full Metal Jousting on History channel.

 

Preparing to Joust.

My favorite thing to do was to sit and watch the creative and sometimes elaborate costumes. Men in kilts to pantaloons; Robin Hood to Crusading Knights; swordsmen to executioners. Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth came in astride her horse to the Joust. Serving wenches to Highborn Ladies in flowing gowns, feathered hats and wreaths of flowers, Vikings with horns, and don't forget the swashbuckling Pirates!

The fair runs weekends until October 21st. So what are you waiting for...get Ye to the Faire!