Mama and I celebrated our 17th anniversary this weekend--and in high style, by going to the NY Renaissance Festival. This was particularly meaningful because Mama and I had one of our earliest outings to the faire the summer we met 20 years ago (I've written about my love affair with fairs here.) With Goo in tow! And he was the age then that the kiddos are now. If you'd told me then that 20 years later, Mama and I would re-visit the fair with our twins, with a life in the CT suburbs and be LEGALLY married, I never would have believed it. It was a wonderful weekend (save one thing I'll get to.)
Costumes: We always like to dress up for the Ren fest. And this year the kids also got into the act. Sis wore a cloak, sword, and carried a bow (Bud's, from Texas), with a special LOTR leaf pendant we purchased for her and plastic attachable elf ears, for she is Legolas, the elf archer. Bud is Frodo, with his colonial vest, a cloak, the One Ring on a silver chain, and his little silver dagger that he was handed during the parade at the Ren Fest in Texas. He's used it in a lot of play these last 5 years. Mama and I were just general shire folk, me in a vest and skirt, Mama in a vest and jeans. We added to our costumes while we were there, half the fun of the festival. I got a flower garland, along with a belt and pouch. Mama got leather shoulder armor called a paldron. Bud got a belt and sword, plus real halfling ears. Sis added archer gauntlets. We were quite the well-dressed crew. It certainly makes the festival more fun. And we got things we can wear again for other faires, for Halloween, even for Comic Con. (Speaking of the latter, we saw several Doctors--three Tenth and one Fourth, all in costume! The first Ten was the best, English accent and all, and posed gamely for a picture with the kids.)
Food: Snacking always plays a huge part in the faire experience and we like to eat. We had the requisite huge turkey leg and funnel cakes, of course. We also really liked the fried macaroni and cheese in little triangles on a stick. Mama and I enjoyed the florentine quesadilla, with spinach, feta, mozzarella, and pesto; we also liked the little doughnuts glazed in orange juice and apple cider. Bud liked the cherry limeade, while I had a yummy orange float, like an Orange Julius only less chemically--just orange juice, ice, and vanilla ice cream.
Shows and Activities: Between snacks, we wandered the faire and enjoyed all the entertainment. My favorite, by far, was the archery. I'm not great at it, even as a Level 1 instructor, but I enjoy it; Mama and the kids do, too. We all even managed to hit near the center of the targets. We watched two chess games--somewhat like wizard chess, with human "pieces" fighting for the spots--something I keenly remember from 20 years ago. Sis really liked the sparring. She also liked the horses in the joust. We all laughed heartily at the Vixens En Garde-version of Hamlet, with a little Star Wars thrown in for fun. And of course, we saw the Birds of Prey show, with the Master Falconer showing off his Andean Condor, Black Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, and Harris Hawk. The show was extra-special after our own English falconry experience where we flew our own vultures and Gyr-falcon. On our own, we had a few sword fights with all of our weapons. We didn't stop for too many musicians (there actually weren't too many), though we danced to the drums of Wolgemut at the end of the first day.
Which brings me to the sad bit: Bud's special silver-colored dagger went missing at some point in the last hour of our two-day visit. We don't know where--and he and Mama searched high and low--and we don't hold out hope that it will be found. I was very sad, not only because he was very sad, but also because it was such a big part of his childhood these last five years. Sure, that probably means we shouldn't have taken it--I'm not sure I realized how attached I was to it until after the fact, though I knew he was--or at least tied it to him; lots of guilt to go with the sadness because I didn't notice that he'd set it down. Hindsight is 20-20. And up to that point, two whole days, he'd kept track of it. But then it was gone . . . as Ar-Ma recently said about Gong's shoes and expensive new orthotics stolen from a local temple while they were praying, somebody else needed them more than he did and it was time for them to move on (sorta like a less-evil version of the One Ring, I suppose.) That wasn't much comfort, though. But as FB often reminds us about Mr. Rogers's "look for the helpers," we were amazed at the kindness of strangers. The first let Mama and Bud back into the faire to search for the dagger, which we only found missing after we got to the car, even though they hadn't gotten their hands stamped. Several shop owners tried to help them, until the last, seeing how upset Bud was, walked them over to her boyfriend's stall where they gave him, without accepting payment, a special as yet unpainted Elvish blade. On the walk back to the car, he apparently planned how he would decorate it with runes and Celtic knots.
Shopping: Before the dagger incident, we'd picked up a few other things. The kids had a budget, but I'm the one who did most of the shopping. I always favor candles and lotions--and I actually got a candle that melts into lotion!! The other candle is one of those multi-dip/multi-colored ones that are then carved to reveal the layers--a staple of 70s living rooms, if I recall correctly; Sis chose a pink and purple one with little rainbow layers. We also really enjoyed experimenting at Nixi Stix, with professional grade juggling balls, pins, dancing wands, dancing sticks, and these Toroflex things that the kids like--think of it as a perpetual-motion Slinky. There wasn't as much great shopping as i'd expected so it took awhile to find something to send to Aunt Sis, who loved the Ren Fest and went every year; my Christmas present always came from the craftspeople.
So, all in all, we had a wonderful time, though the loss of the dagger overshadowed the end a bit. On the way home, we talked about going to faires in Pennsylvania and Maryland sometime; we laughed that later, Sis and Bud could even work them--on horseback, on violin, juggling, swordplay. It was the perfect anniversary weekend.
Showing posts with label renaissance festivals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renaissance festivals. Show all posts
Monday, August 25, 2014
Monday, October 8, 2012
Ren Faires R Us
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| Bud defeating the Swordmaster |
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| Beautiful Barred Owl |
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| Sis climbing Jacob's Ladder |
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| Bud learning about weapons from a German mercenary |
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| Sis flinging a frog |
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| Bud with a bow |
Monday, October 17, 2011
Three Huzzahs!
As you know, we travel back to the Renaissance every chance we get (posts include 2010, 2009, 2008 twice). We went again this weekend--this time to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Sis dressed up as a knight, with her red velvet cloak and shield and battle ax. Bud wore a brown t-shirt and a rope-belt, carrying his wu shu (kung fun) staff, as "Little John." They jumped right in amid all the costumed characters and chaos that is a ren fest, not minding as they have in the past. The joust--with the Duchess of Orkney and her dog "Piglet"--was the kids' favorite performance, followed by the belly dancers! (Later, they would reenact the dancing lady with the sword on her head at home with Legos!) They also remembered and headed straight for the games--smack the rat, frog fling, beanbag toss, and such, each winning a small plastic magic wand. These came in handy later when one of those costumed characters--a masked man with feathery bird features who pecked and squeaked--unsettled them (sound familiar, Gommie and Aunt Banana? Though, the witch at that festival came back more than once before Gommie had to run her off!). Mama sensed their increasing anxiety and said, "Go get'em!" Channeling Harry Potter, Bud whipped out his wand and yelled, "Petrificus totalus!" Sis was right beside him, casting her own spells. The Owl Man smartly surrendered and departed. Bud and Sis were very proud. Sis was still empowered later when a character called her "princess" and she contradicted, "No! I'm a knight!" and brandished her muscles. It was our turn to be proud!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
My First Outing
No, no, not National Coming Out Day (though, thank you, Ms. Sew-and-Sow for calling attention to the day in such a beautiful way; I'd totally forgotten the date).
We went on a family field trip on Saturday, our first since the weekend before my injury. And it was a doozie: the renaissance festival! Perfect for Bud and Sis, who are into all things knights and dragons these days. They even wore their medieval knight Halloween costumes for the occasion, complete with faux chain mail, capes, armor plate, shield, and sword.
Now, the faire had a major thing against it, mainly the long drive, but several things for it, including a focus on walking instead of sitting, a casual self-directed activity, and, most importantly, places to lie down, namely the ground or a bench. And so, with emergency meds in tow (because Percocet will fix anything in a pinch!), my brace, and an ice pack, we were in business.
The kids were really excited at the site of the castle gates and all the people in garb, but Bud needed some reassurance that the several pirates, hooded executioner, and armed men were all pretending, just like he was, and that the muskets' firing in the weapons demonstration were not dangerous and would stop shortly. They were both shy when people spoke to them "Elizabethanly" and addressed them as Dame Knight and Sir Knight. Otherwise, they had a blast. They loved the jousts, the games (and Sis was good and won at frog toss and whack-a-rat), shopping (yes, shopping: Bud was desperate for some real armor--and they did sell heavy chain mail and real swords!). There wasn't great food or much music, which was a disappointment, and we only sat through a few shows, namely the joust, the weapons demonstration, some one-on-one sparring. But those shows were exciting and so real, as was the reenactment village with historical cooking and costumed interpreters.
But for me, I think the best part was when the kids participated in the knighting ceremony, learning the code of chivalry, raising their swords to swear fealty, and then kneeling to be dubbed. So cute, especially in those Halloween costumes. Later, they danced around, wielding their swords and mock fighting, capes billowing behind them. Really, the perfect day.
And I only had to lie down three times in five hours!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Vacation Blogging: Knight/Hawks (Day 2--Sunday)
a.k.a "Our Day at the Texas Renaissance Festival, or How to Survive the 16th Century in a Plastic Poncho."
Yep, it rained.
Not the whole day. Just enough to make the ground puddly and slick and everything damp. We also think a lot fewer of the performers were wandering around, so we heard a lot less music than expected. Because it wasn't supposed to rain like that.
But the day was not a wash at all.
Especially after I bought a $5 purple poncho (the rest of the family had blue; the kids had rain jackets already). The ponchos did confuse the kids though. Poor Sis couldn't identify any grown-ups but me unless she was standing directly in front of them looking up, which she found enormously frustrating when she kept looking for Gommie.
Why?
Okay, so what were we doing at the festival anyway, especially in the rain? I've been going to the Texas Renaissance Festival since the 1970s, probably 1977 or so, just a little after it first opened. When Gommie first took Banana and I, it was just a small affair with one person taking tickets at the front, which I distinctly remember entering on wooden planks because of all the mud. I also remember the mean and scary witch that kept bugging my little sister, to the point of making her cry, until Gommie went ballistic on the woman and scared her away. And I've been back several times, with Gommie and Banana at least one more time (or two), with my aunt P, with high school friends, with college friends, even with Mama several years ago. I even have a fantastic costume that I bought at the festival in Bristol, WI, that I love to wear--a multi-layered affair in mauve and green. It's not practical to wear around young kiddos and would've been ruined in the mud, but maybe I'll bring it to Texas again sometime. Yep, I get into the faires. And so when we chose October as our vacation, I just knew that we had to go. And my folks and Banana and Soccer were good sports to humor me and come along. The kids were too. (Mama loves faires too and so didn't need any coercing).
Food, Glorious Food
Three, count them, three funnel cakes for two small kids. It was pretty much the only food they ate. And they did have to "share" with the adults who wouldn't buy their own funnel cakes--no, nobody wanted a whole one--so they just kept mooching off the kids. The kids loved those funnel cakes, the name for which Sis kept forgetting, though she definitely remembered that she liked them without all that sticky powdered sugar. And, you know, I think she's right; they're better without the "snow."
Otherwise, Mama and I loved the Scotch egg, which is a hard-boiled egg encased in sausage and then deeped fried in a flour batter. You eat it with dijon mustard. Yum. Those and turkey legs are the Renaissance Festival! But of course, being a "good" vegetarian, I only ate the egg. Enjoying that sausage essence all the while . . . .
I also liked the black bean soup I had, which had bell peppers and onions and lots of cumin, maybe even a little vinegar, just lots of flavor in what could have easily been an out-of-a-can festival food. I'm going to try to make it at home.
Dressed to Impress
Okay, so I already mentioned the ponchos. But I didn't mention the purple garland I wore when I didn't have my hoodie up! Yep, stereotypical garb for non-serious Ren Faire attendees, but I love to have something in the spirit to wear and for just over $10, some flowers and ribbons make me feel almost like a lady of the court. The old garlands were better, made of dense bundles of real dried flowers in wonderful arrays of colors and with long flowing ribbons in matching colors. Now, of course, it's all faux silk flowers and shorter ribbons, though mine was pretty enough with deep purple and some dark greenery. Some of the flowers look more like flowers than others. For a few years, when I was a kid, I actually made my own garland with florist wire and tape, choosing my favorite flowers and ribbons. Mine were as good as any of those yesterday.
Of course, the costumes are one of the highlights of the fair, both the ones for sale (of which there are many vendors) and the ones on official participants (identifiable by special TRF badge) and serious visitors. I'm always amazed at what women can and will do with cleavage. I've never really been inclined or able to use mine as a chin rest. In that, my fashion sense is more Victorian lady than Ren Faire wench. But I do love seeing all the elaborate court garb (though, really, the woman dressed as Queen Catherine of Aragon should not have been wearing her hair loose and down) and would, if possible, purchase a similar grand costume to wear.
Music Hath the Power . . .
There wasn't as much music this year because all those beautiful period instruments are wooden and thus susceptible to damage in the rain. But we heard some. Actually, Bud noticed it first and in a downpour dragged us out of our dry spot shopping in a pavilion to chase down a lane in search of drums and bagpipes. And there, cowering under the funnel cake stand--ah, more funnel cakes--was Tartanic, a rockin' Scottish group. Bud danced and twirled and gyrated to the beat, loving it. And two hours later, when we were eating--guess what?!--the band came on again and so me in my garland and Bud in his rain jacket danced our Scottish puddle dance out in the grass without getting rained on.
. . . . To Soothe the Savage Beast
I think, hands down (with Sis's dissenting vote for the jousts), the favorite part of the festival for our group was the falconry show, with the red tail hawk and turkey vulture and barred owl familiar to most, as well as more rare birds whose names I don't recall (including some kind of African hawk that is almost as fast as the fastest creature on earth, the Peregrine Falcon, and an owl that is the largest in the world). Sis and Bud sat rock still for the whole show which included quite a bit of didactic material on the various species. But who cares when you can marvel at those birds of prey? What amazes me is that these wild birds are so well-trained that they don't just fly off in search of turkey legs, which we are warned in advance to hide. But the festival is crawling with food and the birds, who must not be hungry with all the treats they get, just stay put and do their flying thing. Really, really close to the heads of the audience. And not always to the exact specification of the falconer.
On Target
Perhaps second only to the falconer was archery. I'm not sure who started it, probably Aunt Banana or Gommie, but we all ended up shooting arrows at the archery range. Pop and Mama were the best, hitting the paper targets each time they shot. The rest of us did hit the hay, which was better than the arrows landing in the dirt (and much better than I thought I'd do). But at some point our aim didn't matter. It was just fun.
Treasures
If Mama was our William Tell, Bud was a little Robin Hood carrying around an oversized bow that Mama got him (sans the accompanying metal-tipped arrows!). He was pleased as punch to have the bow and spent most of the rest of the day (which was almost over at this point, though this post is not) plucking the string. It hasn't left his side since (except to visit Gommie's friends today, because, well, the bow is big and wooden and the hostess had a nice house with breakable things. As it was, he and Sis made a nice mess of the Mah Jongh game, but that's for tomorrow's post). I think Pop feels a bit sorry for him, though, and I won't be at all surprised if some less-dangerous arrows with foamy tips or something aren't made or located.
Sis's treasure came from the fairies. She and Gommie came across at troupe of fairies at some point and, though Sis just stood and stared at them, obviously interested but in no way daring to approach them, one of them approached her and gave her a shiny green stone, a magic faerie rock. She was so amazed, so proud. She carried that rock in her tight fist all day, entrusting it to an adult only if necessary. Later she did a dig-for-gems game and gathered a whole little pouch of crystalline rocks but they were not in the same category as the magic faerie rock, which was kept safely separate.
She also received several flowers during the grand parade. As she again stood motionless but intrigued by the parade participants, more than one came over to her and presented her with flowers, first a pink rose from a court lady in pink, and then a carnation. As well as some green plastic beads. Bud, by then was starting to feel a bit jealous--he came late to the fairy gathering and didn't get a rock and no one handed him any flowers--so Gommie--bless all grandmothers--helped him attract the attention of some flower throwers. But best of all, a kindly lord bestowed on Bud a little silver-painted wooden dagger! For the rest of the day he carried flowers in one hand and dagger in the other, an odd image of peace and war.
Those were the best things procured that day, though we came home with a few extra souvenirs--a t-shirt, a collectible pin, a gift for the babysitter, a gift for my aunt who until recently was a yearly habitue of the festival and the Sea Devil Tavern (noted to be not recommended for children), a skein of coral hand spun and dyed yarn for me, and a surprise from Mama--a little decorative wooden fairy door that I can put in some corner of the house to let fairies in and out!
Loose Ends
And so we headed home around 2:30, having fully enjoyed the festival for 5 1/2 hours despite the rain. In fact, we were glad of the rain, because only 7,000 people were said to be in attendance, as opposed to 17,000 the day before. I can't imagine.
Some final thoughts and images:
Yep, it rained.
Not the whole day. Just enough to make the ground puddly and slick and everything damp. We also think a lot fewer of the performers were wandering around, so we heard a lot less music than expected. Because it wasn't supposed to rain like that.
But the day was not a wash at all.
Especially after I bought a $5 purple poncho (the rest of the family had blue; the kids had rain jackets already). The ponchos did confuse the kids though. Poor Sis couldn't identify any grown-ups but me unless she was standing directly in front of them looking up, which she found enormously frustrating when she kept looking for Gommie.
Why?
Okay, so what were we doing at the festival anyway, especially in the rain? I've been going to the Texas Renaissance Festival since the 1970s, probably 1977 or so, just a little after it first opened. When Gommie first took Banana and I, it was just a small affair with one person taking tickets at the front, which I distinctly remember entering on wooden planks because of all the mud. I also remember the mean and scary witch that kept bugging my little sister, to the point of making her cry, until Gommie went ballistic on the woman and scared her away. And I've been back several times, with Gommie and Banana at least one more time (or two), with my aunt P, with high school friends, with college friends, even with Mama several years ago. I even have a fantastic costume that I bought at the festival in Bristol, WI, that I love to wear--a multi-layered affair in mauve and green. It's not practical to wear around young kiddos and would've been ruined in the mud, but maybe I'll bring it to Texas again sometime. Yep, I get into the faires. And so when we chose October as our vacation, I just knew that we had to go. And my folks and Banana and Soccer were good sports to humor me and come along. The kids were too. (Mama loves faires too and so didn't need any coercing).
Food, Glorious Food
Three, count them, three funnel cakes for two small kids. It was pretty much the only food they ate. And they did have to "share" with the adults who wouldn't buy their own funnel cakes--no, nobody wanted a whole one--so they just kept mooching off the kids. The kids loved those funnel cakes, the name for which Sis kept forgetting, though she definitely remembered that she liked them without all that sticky powdered sugar. And, you know, I think she's right; they're better without the "snow."
Otherwise, Mama and I loved the Scotch egg, which is a hard-boiled egg encased in sausage and then deeped fried in a flour batter. You eat it with dijon mustard. Yum. Those and turkey legs are the Renaissance Festival! But of course, being a "good" vegetarian, I only ate the egg. Enjoying that sausage essence all the while . . . .
I also liked the black bean soup I had, which had bell peppers and onions and lots of cumin, maybe even a little vinegar, just lots of flavor in what could have easily been an out-of-a-can festival food. I'm going to try to make it at home.
Dressed to Impress
Okay, so I already mentioned the ponchos. But I didn't mention the purple garland I wore when I didn't have my hoodie up! Yep, stereotypical garb for non-serious Ren Faire attendees, but I love to have something in the spirit to wear and for just over $10, some flowers and ribbons make me feel almost like a lady of the court. The old garlands were better, made of dense bundles of real dried flowers in wonderful arrays of colors and with long flowing ribbons in matching colors. Now, of course, it's all faux silk flowers and shorter ribbons, though mine was pretty enough with deep purple and some dark greenery. Some of the flowers look more like flowers than others. For a few years, when I was a kid, I actually made my own garland with florist wire and tape, choosing my favorite flowers and ribbons. Mine were as good as any of those yesterday.
Of course, the costumes are one of the highlights of the fair, both the ones for sale (of which there are many vendors) and the ones on official participants (identifiable by special TRF badge) and serious visitors. I'm always amazed at what women can and will do with cleavage. I've never really been inclined or able to use mine as a chin rest. In that, my fashion sense is more Victorian lady than Ren Faire wench. But I do love seeing all the elaborate court garb (though, really, the woman dressed as Queen Catherine of Aragon should not have been wearing her hair loose and down) and would, if possible, purchase a similar grand costume to wear.
Music Hath the Power . . .
There wasn't as much music this year because all those beautiful period instruments are wooden and thus susceptible to damage in the rain. But we heard some. Actually, Bud noticed it first and in a downpour dragged us out of our dry spot shopping in a pavilion to chase down a lane in search of drums and bagpipes. And there, cowering under the funnel cake stand--ah, more funnel cakes--was Tartanic, a rockin' Scottish group. Bud danced and twirled and gyrated to the beat, loving it. And two hours later, when we were eating--guess what?!--the band came on again and so me in my garland and Bud in his rain jacket danced our Scottish puddle dance out in the grass without getting rained on.
. . . . To Soothe the Savage Beast
I think, hands down (with Sis's dissenting vote for the jousts), the favorite part of the festival for our group was the falconry show, with the red tail hawk and turkey vulture and barred owl familiar to most, as well as more rare birds whose names I don't recall (including some kind of African hawk that is almost as fast as the fastest creature on earth, the Peregrine Falcon, and an owl that is the largest in the world). Sis and Bud sat rock still for the whole show which included quite a bit of didactic material on the various species. But who cares when you can marvel at those birds of prey? What amazes me is that these wild birds are so well-trained that they don't just fly off in search of turkey legs, which we are warned in advance to hide. But the festival is crawling with food and the birds, who must not be hungry with all the treats they get, just stay put and do their flying thing. Really, really close to the heads of the audience. And not always to the exact specification of the falconer.
On Target
Perhaps second only to the falconer was archery. I'm not sure who started it, probably Aunt Banana or Gommie, but we all ended up shooting arrows at the archery range. Pop and Mama were the best, hitting the paper targets each time they shot. The rest of us did hit the hay, which was better than the arrows landing in the dirt (and much better than I thought I'd do). But at some point our aim didn't matter. It was just fun.
Treasures
If Mama was our William Tell, Bud was a little Robin Hood carrying around an oversized bow that Mama got him (sans the accompanying metal-tipped arrows!). He was pleased as punch to have the bow and spent most of the rest of the day (which was almost over at this point, though this post is not) plucking the string. It hasn't left his side since (except to visit Gommie's friends today, because, well, the bow is big and wooden and the hostess had a nice house with breakable things. As it was, he and Sis made a nice mess of the Mah Jongh game, but that's for tomorrow's post). I think Pop feels a bit sorry for him, though, and I won't be at all surprised if some less-dangerous arrows with foamy tips or something aren't made or located.
Sis's treasure came from the fairies. She and Gommie came across at troupe of fairies at some point and, though Sis just stood and stared at them, obviously interested but in no way daring to approach them, one of them approached her and gave her a shiny green stone, a magic faerie rock. She was so amazed, so proud. She carried that rock in her tight fist all day, entrusting it to an adult only if necessary. Later she did a dig-for-gems game and gathered a whole little pouch of crystalline rocks but they were not in the same category as the magic faerie rock, which was kept safely separate.
She also received several flowers during the grand parade. As she again stood motionless but intrigued by the parade participants, more than one came over to her and presented her with flowers, first a pink rose from a court lady in pink, and then a carnation. As well as some green plastic beads. Bud, by then was starting to feel a bit jealous--he came late to the fairy gathering and didn't get a rock and no one handed him any flowers--so Gommie--bless all grandmothers--helped him attract the attention of some flower throwers. But best of all, a kindly lord bestowed on Bud a little silver-painted wooden dagger! For the rest of the day he carried flowers in one hand and dagger in the other, an odd image of peace and war.
Those were the best things procured that day, though we came home with a few extra souvenirs--a t-shirt, a collectible pin, a gift for the babysitter, a gift for my aunt who until recently was a yearly habitue of the festival and the Sea Devil Tavern (noted to be not recommended for children), a skein of coral hand spun and dyed yarn for me, and a surprise from Mama--a little decorative wooden fairy door that I can put in some corner of the house to let fairies in and out!
Loose Ends
And so we headed home around 2:30, having fully enjoyed the festival for 5 1/2 hours despite the rain. In fact, we were glad of the rain, because only 7,000 people were said to be in attendance, as opposed to 17,000 the day before. I can't imagine.
Some final thoughts and images:
- Sis loved riding the carousel and proudly sat on the bunny, though Gommie at first mistook the various creatures and put her on a kangaroo!
- Sis was also intrigued by a Papa and Mama Elf, two little Gnomes in Red and Green hats whom she approached, recognizing them from books and our garden figures.
- Only Uncle Soccer was intrigued by the elephants and nobody would ride with him.
- The kids' games on offer are a waste of money--come on, faire people, design some better games for the little ones.
- Dad and Uncle Soccer (and the kids) had never been before. Dad at one point turned to me and said, "I think some of these people think this is real." And yes, I think some festival people travel the circuit and live in the Renaissance several months of the year. I'm glad just to visit.
- I couldn't for the life of me remember yesterday the names of all of Henry VIII's wives, who are featured one at a time at the festival. Here's a way to remember: 3 Catherines, 2 Annes, and a Jane (not in that order or exact spelling--the Catherines are different; though, the last Catherine was named after the first). And their fates? Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.
I can't believe how big it's all gotten, from those days when Real Musgrave sat in a tent signing his posters with little dragons and runes and there were only some crafters, my favorite fest musical group called Celtic Stone, elephant rides, Scotch eggs, only a few permanent buildings and lots more open space, and the SCA sparrers battering at each other several times a day--back when you got in at a reduced rate if you came in costume! Bigger isn't always better, but really, the Texas Renaissance Festival is the best.
More tomorrow, about today.Sunday, October 5, 2008
Huzzah, Part Deux
"I never met a king before," Sis said when introduced to the king at the Renaissance Festival yesterday.
Indeed.
And they'd never met pirates, fairies, queens, knights, ladies, or wenches before either.
Though, they'd been to the Ren Faire as babes in stroller, they couldn't remember having gone and so yesterday was a whole new world. And, at first, it was rather strange and intimidating. Big, costumed, accented people kept greeting and accosting us as we entered. Fun for us as adults used to the Ren Faire banter, but a little overwhelming to a child. It all reminded me of when my sis Aunt Banana was totally freaked out by a witch at the TX Ren Faire and how upset my mom got at the woman for harrassing Banana. But we made it through the crowds and found some music at a distant stage, which was perfect for Bud. We listened to the Brigands sing bawdy songs that fortunately Bud could not decipher beyond identifying the concertina, drums, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. He calmed down soon enough and eventually settled into the festivities and had a good time.
Meanwhile, Sis and Mama headed to the children's section, where they found the sheepdog demo area and "Bunnyville." We were soon all there marvelling at the Border Collie pup, the sheep, ducks, and different rabbits. Later in the day, we actually saw a herding demonstration where the dogs corralled the ducks as well as the sheep. Sis kept asking when the "bunny show" was. But, then, she is very partial to her own stuffed critter, a white bunny named Amy (with sisters named Meg, Jo, and Beth. I wonder when she'll figure that out.).
The kids also loved the toy vendor who wisely sets up a low table and puts out all his figurines and toys and lets all the kids play as long as they want. Two years ago, Bud and Sis had a blast at this booth, even though they weren't even cruising yet and had to be propped up against the table to see, with us nearby to keep them from falling backwards. Bud choose a jousting knight, Sis got a horse, as Mama said they could each choose one. Later, they managed to complete their sets, with Bud getting a horse and Sis getting a knight.
Just in time for the jousting. Again, they didn't understand much of the ribald banter, but they liked watching the people on horseback catch rings on long poles, slice cabbage in half, and throw spears at targets. Indeed, they would have been happy with no talk as long as the people kept riding around. But at least it gave them a better sense of what their little figurines were doing.
It's not the best festival we've been to--Texas and Bristol, WI, and Sterling Forest, NY are bigger, more elaborate, more entertaining--but it's ours now, and their first. No doubt we'll be back every year, to play with the toys, listen to the music, and watch some jousting. Maybe we'll even dress up. And sooner or later, the kiddos won't think it's strange at all.
Indeed.
And they'd never met pirates, fairies, queens, knights, ladies, or wenches before either.
Though, they'd been to the Ren Faire as babes in stroller, they couldn't remember having gone and so yesterday was a whole new world. And, at first, it was rather strange and intimidating. Big, costumed, accented people kept greeting and accosting us as we entered. Fun for us as adults used to the Ren Faire banter, but a little overwhelming to a child. It all reminded me of when my sis Aunt Banana was totally freaked out by a witch at the TX Ren Faire and how upset my mom got at the woman for harrassing Banana. But we made it through the crowds and found some music at a distant stage, which was perfect for Bud. We listened to the Brigands sing bawdy songs that fortunately Bud could not decipher beyond identifying the concertina, drums, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. He calmed down soon enough and eventually settled into the festivities and had a good time.
Meanwhile, Sis and Mama headed to the children's section, where they found the sheepdog demo area and "Bunnyville." We were soon all there marvelling at the Border Collie pup, the sheep, ducks, and different rabbits. Later in the day, we actually saw a herding demonstration where the dogs corralled the ducks as well as the sheep. Sis kept asking when the "bunny show" was. But, then, she is very partial to her own stuffed critter, a white bunny named Amy (with sisters named Meg, Jo, and Beth. I wonder when she'll figure that out.).
The kids also loved the toy vendor who wisely sets up a low table and puts out all his figurines and toys and lets all the kids play as long as they want. Two years ago, Bud and Sis had a blast at this booth, even though they weren't even cruising yet and had to be propped up against the table to see, with us nearby to keep them from falling backwards. Bud choose a jousting knight, Sis got a horse, as Mama said they could each choose one. Later, they managed to complete their sets, with Bud getting a horse and Sis getting a knight.
Just in time for the jousting. Again, they didn't understand much of the ribald banter, but they liked watching the people on horseback catch rings on long poles, slice cabbage in half, and throw spears at targets. Indeed, they would have been happy with no talk as long as the people kept riding around. But at least it gave them a better sense of what their little figurines were doing.
It's not the best festival we've been to--Texas and Bristol, WI, and Sterling Forest, NY are bigger, more elaborate, more entertaining--but it's ours now, and their first. No doubt we'll be back every year, to play with the toys, listen to the music, and watch some jousting. Maybe we'll even dress up. And sooner or later, the kiddos won't think it's strange at all.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Huzzah
I've been going to Renaissance Festivals since my mom took us to the one in Texas just a year or so after it opened. And I've loved them ever since: the crafts, the food, the costumes, the music, the ambience. I would go with Mom and sis, wear a flowered garland (oh, I loved these and have several and have made several), each scotch eggs and turkey legs, watch jousting on horseback, listen to madrigals, gawk at the lavish costumes (and not-so-lavish bawdy ones), and in general have a fine time. At the point, Real Musgrave was the official artist of the Texas Ren Fest and would sit in his booth signing posters of dragons. I have a few of these; I loved his art. At one point, we even went to a show of his and I remember this amazing print of a knight and lady on a unicorn or winged horse flying near the moon, I think; it was too expensive to buy--I got another signed poster instead--but it encapsulated what I loved about the ren faires.
In college, I joined our chapter of SCA but never really got too involved. It was definitely a boy-thing where I went to school--sparring and RPG (role-playing games like D&D)--and not craft-oriented. I did have "garb," the word for a costume, and wore it to gatherings and our trip to the ren fest. But I never got more involved and now, I think it would be too strict for my more casual, touristic interest in ren faires. For that is what it is, surely, like going on vacation in a foreign time and watching the "natives." Mind you, for the most part, ren faires are completely anachronistic, designed for the tourist, unlike real SCA events (there is usually an SCA presence at some fests, but they don't organize the big ones--I've been to Texas, Bristol in WI, Sterling Forest in NY, and the two in CT). And that's ok with me. I like the weird blend of "Master Card and Lady Visa" with turkey legs and diet Coke, Henry VIII and fairies and Merlin, garlands and face painting, jousting and raunchy jokes. I even have a great costume--an elaborate affair with shift, underskirt, overskirt, and bodice, in mauve and teal. DP has an incredible cloak and a hat. We're quite the pair.
(It won't surprise you that we also like Civil War reenactiments and living history museums. But those don't really invite visitors to participate in the same way--indeed, the interpreters do it for their own fun and are often indifferent and sometimes downright hostile to outsiders. Now, if they did have a Civil War fair, so to speak, I'd be the first in line to dress up and play lady for a day. I hear you can do that at Williambsurg, for the Colonial times, and I can't wait to go).
And we can't wait for the kids to enjoy it. We've taken them to the little ones in CT, but they were so young. DS liked the music. DD was scared to death of one of the creatures with wings (some fairy/goblin guy). They both liked being outside as long as it wasn't too hot. They'll love it this summer. And when they're still older we'll make the haul to NY's faire and later even, the one in Texas. My deart Aunt P after whom DD is named is quite the ren faire devotee--she goes every year and camps out for a weekend and then hangs out listening to sea shanties and old tunes while imbibing the local brew; I would wander around, meeting her back at the pub and then wandering out again. The kids will love it. And then, we'll graduate to the real Renaissance and head across the pond for a "dragons and dungeons" tours of real medieval castles and sites. I wonder, are Ren Faires popular where there was actually a Middle Ages? (Mind you, there is no real concern about the actual differentiation of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages, both of which terms are problematic academically. As an historian, that bothers me not at all; this is recreation not scholarship. My beloved Victorians were constantly viewing other cultures and periods through their own lenses--just look at the art of Lawrence Alma-Tadema; it's charming and very revealing, both the art and the historical-cultural appropriation. And before I get in trouble for calling cultural appropriation "charming," I know all the scholarly buzzwords and reasonings for why it is racist, elitist, Eurocentric etc. It doesn't bother me at the Ren Faire or in the art of Alma-Tadema. It's intellectually intriguing. Go read Confederates in the Attic).
Why bring this up now, when ren faire season is still months away? We had a renaissance banquet at my church last night--very "Medieval Times" (the dinner theater in tourist towns), with roast chicken and potatoes with no cutlery, as well as lots of cleavage, roguish jokes, and swordplay. Being with friends used to ren faires made the evening delightful.
And so, I'm getting ready, mentally, for the next event. It's not too soon to make flowered garlands.
In college, I joined our chapter of SCA but never really got too involved. It was definitely a boy-thing where I went to school--sparring and RPG (role-playing games like D&D)--and not craft-oriented. I did have "garb," the word for a costume, and wore it to gatherings and our trip to the ren fest. But I never got more involved and now, I think it would be too strict for my more casual, touristic interest in ren faires. For that is what it is, surely, like going on vacation in a foreign time and watching the "natives." Mind you, for the most part, ren faires are completely anachronistic, designed for the tourist, unlike real SCA events (there is usually an SCA presence at some fests, but they don't organize the big ones--I've been to Texas, Bristol in WI, Sterling Forest in NY, and the two in CT). And that's ok with me. I like the weird blend of "Master Card and Lady Visa" with turkey legs and diet Coke, Henry VIII and fairies and Merlin, garlands and face painting, jousting and raunchy jokes. I even have a great costume--an elaborate affair with shift, underskirt, overskirt, and bodice, in mauve and teal. DP has an incredible cloak and a hat. We're quite the pair.
(It won't surprise you that we also like Civil War reenactiments and living history museums. But those don't really invite visitors to participate in the same way--indeed, the interpreters do it for their own fun and are often indifferent and sometimes downright hostile to outsiders. Now, if they did have a Civil War fair, so to speak, I'd be the first in line to dress up and play lady for a day. I hear you can do that at Williambsurg, for the Colonial times, and I can't wait to go).
And we can't wait for the kids to enjoy it. We've taken them to the little ones in CT, but they were so young. DS liked the music. DD was scared to death of one of the creatures with wings (some fairy/goblin guy). They both liked being outside as long as it wasn't too hot. They'll love it this summer. And when they're still older we'll make the haul to NY's faire and later even, the one in Texas. My deart Aunt P after whom DD is named is quite the ren faire devotee--she goes every year and camps out for a weekend and then hangs out listening to sea shanties and old tunes while imbibing the local brew; I would wander around, meeting her back at the pub and then wandering out again. The kids will love it. And then, we'll graduate to the real Renaissance and head across the pond for a "dragons and dungeons" tours of real medieval castles and sites. I wonder, are Ren Faires popular where there was actually a Middle Ages? (Mind you, there is no real concern about the actual differentiation of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages, both of which terms are problematic academically. As an historian, that bothers me not at all; this is recreation not scholarship. My beloved Victorians were constantly viewing other cultures and periods through their own lenses--just look at the art of Lawrence Alma-Tadema; it's charming and very revealing, both the art and the historical-cultural appropriation. And before I get in trouble for calling cultural appropriation "charming," I know all the scholarly buzzwords and reasonings for why it is racist, elitist, Eurocentric etc. It doesn't bother me at the Ren Faire or in the art of Alma-Tadema. It's intellectually intriguing. Go read Confederates in the Attic).
Why bring this up now, when ren faire season is still months away? We had a renaissance banquet at my church last night--very "Medieval Times" (the dinner theater in tourist towns), with roast chicken and potatoes with no cutlery, as well as lots of cleavage, roguish jokes, and swordplay. Being with friends used to ren faires made the evening delightful.
And so, I'm getting ready, mentally, for the next event. It's not too soon to make flowered garlands.
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