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.