Renaissance Fairs

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire - ABC News

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire - ABC News.

Centuries ago, kings and queens ruled. It was a time when knights slayed dragons, and fair maidens welcomed their gallant men home. Share Renaissance fairs take visitors back to the 1500s for a day of food and fun. More Photos But those days are long gone ... except on the weekends at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. The fair is held on the 35-acre Mount Hope Estate and Winery built by the Grubb family, which started an iron ore mining company in Lancaster County. Every weekend, beginning in early August, the fair holds 90 shows that are performed on 13 outside stages. When the gates open around 11 a.m., fair patrons enter the medieval times of 1569, a world full of "thees" and "thous," overrun by swashbuckling pirate and wine wenches, sword swallowers and fire eaters, and of course, pickles on a stick. Walking down the pathway of the estate, lively characters ask the patrons to take part in their all-day play. Merchants sell hand-crafted products and give live demonstrations such as blacksmiths making swords, stained glass window displays and historical glass blowing.

Alabama Renaissance Faire Oct. 24-25 in Florence

Alabama Renaissance Faire Oct. 24-25 in Florence.

Always the fourth weekend in October, downtown Florence recreates itself as a 1400s-era small medieval village where hundreds of people in authentic period costumes entertain more than 30,000 people each year. The 23rd annual Alabama Renaissance Faire is a celebration of the Renaissance Period featuring musical programs, theatrical performances, art exhibits, dance programs, and public lectures. The festival also includes handcrafts and wares typical of the Renaissance period available for purchase, entertainers performing with ancient instruments, sword fighters, and even trolls. This year’s event is scheduled for October 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and October 25, noon to 6 p.m., at the Fountain-On-The-Green (Wilson Park) in downtown Florence, Alabama. Admission is free. In addition to the festivities centered on Fountain-On-The-Green, a special exhibit by the Shoals Artists Guild will be on display at the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street. To add to the festivities, everyone is invited to come dressed in period attire. No costume to wear? A free costume-making workshop will be held on October 10 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center. People of all ages are invited to bring fabric (three yards, sixty inches wide), and the measuring, cutting, and sewing will be handled by men and women connected with the Faire. The costume can be embellished with jewelry, belts, etc. and then worn to the Faire. A Renaissance Feast with authentic food and entertainment of the period and the selection of a new King and Queen is scheduled for October 17 at 7 p.m. at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum located at 702 East Veterans Drive. Cost is $25 per person and seating is limited to 200 people. Tickets may be purchased at the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center beginning October 1. For more information, visit the Alabama Renaissance Faire’s web site at www.alarenfaire.org or call 256.768.3031.

The Anchor - Five reasons why you should go to a Renaissance faire this year

The Anchor - Five reasons why you should go to a Renaissance faire this year.

You know how every popular band has those fans that have liked them before they became popular and so that makes them better fans? Well I have been going to Renaissance faires since before they were cool. My family has gone every year for as long as I can remember (which just so happens to be up to five minutes ago), and I have always had fun. Now you ask yourself, “Andrew, I have lived under a rock since I was born, what IS a Renaissance faire?” A Renaissance faire (or Ren faire) is a fair themed after the Renaissance. It is a difficult concept to grasp, but we will work it through. Of course, it is not strictly themed after the Renaissance; pretty much anything older than the 19th Century will work. There are even some faires with pirates in them. So here are my five reasons why you should go to a Ren faire: The fairgrounds. When you go to a Ren faire, the entire area becomes a stage. The various staff dress up in medieval garb and talk in accents. The staff interacts with each other making witty and entertaining remarks to each other. Some of it can be corny at times, but it is all well worth it. Weapons. This warrants its own section. The Ren faires will allow you to carry medieval weapons (swords, axes, etc,) on your person in the fair. No faire will allow you to draw these weapons, and some require you to peace tie them, but you can still carry them. Most faires also have a shooting range where you can fire bows and crossbows, as well as throw knives and axes. You can also purchase weapons both decorative and battle ready (though the latter costs significantly more). Entertainment. There are numerous shows that go on during a Ren faire. Most Ren faires have a joust which is the main event and is usually the climax of that faire’s ongoing story (yes, there is a story). Many faires have singing minstrels of all kinds, puppet shows, and even mud shows, which are exactly what they sound like (two people playing with mud and making jokes, you pervs). The King Richard’s Faire in Massachusetts even has a big cat show where they show off many different large cats, including a liger. Dressing up. The bigger Ren faire nerds (like me) can also dress up in medieval garb, just like the staff. Some even talk in accents, but I have been forbidden. The ranges of costumes available to you are solely based on either your wallet or your ability to sew. For the poorer among us, you can also rent a costume for a day. The running joke among any Ren faire is that those who do not dress up are “naked.” The Food. Since food is always a priority for me, I thought it deserved mentioning here. Most Ren faires do serve normal foods under fancy names (like Ye King’s Dogs) or fair food like kettle corn, but they also will have unique items for sale. My favorite item is the turkey leg. It is much like a normal chicken leg but it is about five times the size. They will also serve stew in a bread bowl, which works well considering most faires are in autumn. I hope this article has intrigued some of you to check out the local Renaissance faires. The most popular one is the King Richard’s Faire, but the Connecticut Renaissance Faire is cheaper and worth checking out. And if you do not go, well that means more turkey leg for me.