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| In This Issue: | May 2008 |
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Whitman College Renaissance Faire (WA) “Unfortunately, I left my armor at home, in the laundry,” said Ruth Garcia, an Oregon resident, as she peddled chain mail at Saturday’s 38th annual Renaissance Faire. “Luckily vending is fun!” This year’s faire drew colorful costumes and eye-catching performances, from sword fighting demonstrations to musical and theatrical performances. Some attendees were highly enthusiastic about recreating the medieval period. “I was in England when I saw some of these old pieces,” Garcia said of her motivation to create chain mail. She began working on some pieces as many as three years ago, in addition to knitting and crocheting. She is also a member of the Empire of Adria, who led broadsword demonstrations throughout the day… “Though I’m not particularly interested [in the time period], I’m really enjoying it,” said Walla Walla resident Juli Stout, with three children in tow. “The activities are great for kids, and this is the first time I’ve been to the campus, which is beautiful.” Sunny and warm weather helped create a lighthearted atmosphere… Planning begins with the school year and picks up heat during the second semester. “It’s cool that people get excited. You work all year long and then in these last few days it comes together,” said sophomore Brittin Borland, who participated for the first time this year. Borland and Kahn plan to reach out to incoming freshman in hopes to gain enough new members, and are thinking of ideas for next year. “This was our first time coming and we’re already talking about coming back,” said Walla Walla residents Mike and Nancy Vidican, who praised the skill of blacksmith Torvald Sorensen. Jen Johnson, access services manager at Penrose Library and a vendor at the faire, was dressed in full regalia and has attended the faire six times. “My kids come and do magic shows,” she said. “I love it.” Complete article: Ocean Springs Renaissance Festival (MS) Freedom Field in Ocean Springs was surrounded by a moat Saturday morning, as men dressed in elaborate costumes desperately tried to dig it out. But thanks to a morning shower, the seventh Annual Ocean Springs Renaissance Festival has the perfect setting. The sounds of the 15th Century take you back in time when the simplicity of life meant hard work for everyone. "It's a whole different world. Children? They were working as soon as they could toddle, collecting eggs and weeding the garden. Our kids? We send them off to school, that's a luxury," Theresa Anoskey said. "You do have to wear it a couple of times before you wear one for an event, or you will pass out!" Janelle Walker said…. Complete article: Ocean Springs Renaissance Faire (MS) The 7th annual Ocean Springs Renaissance Faire or "Faire By the Sea" started off slightly wet Saturday morning but the afternoon brought sunshine and big crowds. The two-day Faire is set up in a large open field on Porter Avenue and features interaction with colorful characters of the past, full-contact equestrian jousts, wood lances, armored knights and thundering hooves…. The royal joust was performed by the "Knights of Valour," a Canadian troupe of full-armored knights on horseback. The Faire also featured a royal procession celebrating the reign of 2008 King Nathan LeBlanc and Queen Michelle Hale. Live entertainment, musicians "A Frayed Knot" and "Blarney Coast," medieval dancing and blacksmithing demonstrations were some of the highlights of the afternoon…. Families roamed the grounds enjoying the tumbling jesters and took turns at the mystical fishpond. Children searched for fairies in the magical Faerie Village, and visited the royal petting zoo complete with exotic animals… Complete article and picture: Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire Just 45 minutes and 500 years from St. Louis, you’ll find a unique weekend escape for the whole family. That’s where 20 acres in Wentzville, Mo., will be transformed into “petite” Lyons, France, during the year 1523 for the 10th annual Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire. The faire runs from May 17 through June 8 on weekends and Memorial Day. “As soon as our guests enter the gates, it is as if they’ve walked back in time,” says King Francois I, aka Ted Jander, who has portrayed the king since the 2002 season. “The overall atmosphere is fantastic.” You’ll hear “bonjour” or “ca va” as you wander through the 16th century village along rolling, wooded acres at Rotary Park. Guests from all walks of life can meet with the king and Queen Claude (yes, that’s her name… The actors are given a 30-year leeway in period dress, but with the patrons, anything goes. So you’ll see men dressed as Roman Gladiators, teens wearing prom dresses and children wearing Halloween princess and knight costumes. History buffs may want to take the weekend even further by visiting some of the French historical sites in the area… Get more information on the French connection, the Renaissance Faire, hotels and other attraction, by visiting www.ExploreStLouis.com. Complete article: This was my first year to visit any Renaissance Festival, ever, and I had a great time at Scarborough Faire. Just wanted to let you know that this blog entry was the reason I decided to go! Normally I try to stick closer to the metroplex for my explorations, but thanks for the inspiration -- it was worth the effort. I've got a blog entry of my own and a few pics if you want to take a look: http://www.dfwandme.com/446/scarborough-renaissance-festival-waxahachie-part-i/ Cheers! FloydUtah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire…Hear minstrels, see jousting contests, dance and other performing arts. There will also be an Olde Marketplace where vendors will sell their wares, including forged swords, exotic jewelry, leather crafts, clothing and food. Among the many performers (will be) the Royal Magick of Seattle and the musical group the Glastonbury Duo,. Shauna Burns will bring her troupe of musicians to headline May 16-18 at 7 p.m. Burns, a world-renowned, Celtic-inspired musician, is a graduate of the University of Utah and looks forward to returning to the Beehive State. "This will be the first Renaissance Festival that we've ever done," said Burns during a phone call from Long Beach, Calif., last week. "I've got friends and family in Utah. So, I'm pretty excited to be coming home…" http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695277468,00.html Park View Middle School Renaissance Faire (CA) The Renaissance returned to Park View Middle School May 2 as students dressed the part, learned to weave, dance, play games and watch a jousting with real horses. The Renaissance Faire was a day-long event for PVMS students who came dressed in peasant and regal attire.
Horses from the Pass Pioneers 4-H club underscored the festivities. Club members handled the equines while demonstrating the training, jousting and jumping which illustrated training needed for horses in preparation for their life with an English Knight. Jenny Anderson, one of the 4H leaders, told the crowd, “Jousting was particularly tough training for horses because, in the clash of titans at a Renaissance Joust, they would see the long lance coming straight at them and would turn aside to dodge the danger (hence the term ‘horse sense'). The huge draft horse steeds had to be taught to run straight ahead,” Anderson added, “Or they would have to be blindfolded.” While talking to students about the life of a Knight, Alyssa Smith and Katelyn Edwards explained the fact that a Renaissance horse was as expensive as a private jet is today. Smith said, “That is why it was difficult for them to obtain horses and knighthood was so important.” Renaissance Smithy There was a blacksmith at the Faire showing students how metal working was done in medieval times. Brent Richardson demonstrated “smithing” by actual use of hammers, a fire pit and metals allowing students to give the anvil their best shot. “The reason we heat the metal is because it becomes easier to work,” Richardson said. “Just hammering a piece of metal also creates heat.” Richardson posted a medieval family coat of arms and also added to the feel of the village blacksmith with his appearance and attire. Renaissance Games One of the games students learned by actually playing, was called Rounders…Rounders is played with a stick (bat) and a “ball” that is probably five times larger than a modern-day soft ball. The stick used was just about three feet long and two inches wide. The ball is “pitched” to the hitter. The similarity to modern day baseball ends right there. There are no foul balls, no strikes and the runner is tagged out only when hit by the “ball” (hence the term out cold). It doesn't matter where the ball is hit. It can be hit backwards (towards what would be today's backstop). Outs are recorded only if the defense catches the ball on the first hop or hits the runner with the ball. There is no set number of outs. Each member of the ‘team' gets to be a hitter…. Renaissance Dancing Dancing, it was learned, came from the need for young people to have a chance to meet other young people, especially those of the opposite sex. In the Renaissance people of great means usually arranged marriages for their children while families of more humble origins had to meet and court their own spouses. One of the few means of meeting other people was to attend a dance… Renaissance Armor A substitute teacher, Mr. Rakshannah Ranney, also brought to the Faire part of his private medieval collection of metal armor used by Knights. A student, Chris Manicella, was wearing the mesh weave metal armor and a “pig-face” metal helmet. Ranney showed students the chronology through which the body armor went during the era, especially helmets. “I am quite proud of the helmet from the crusades,” he said as he showed it to the gathering… Renaissance Weaving Cheryl Wilcox demonstrated wheat weaving. She and other adult leaders helped students with a hands-on weaving of a heart shaped weaving of three strands which were used as a romantic way for a young renaissance man to ask a young lady to “go steady.” Wilcox added, “If a young lady would wear this near her heart it meant that her heart was taken…” Complete article: Mayfaire Renaissance Festival (MI) The Mayfaire Renaissance Festival site is nestled in a natural, wooded area of the Calhoun County fairgrounds. While strolling through the lanes you'll encounter boatloads of pirates, fierce Vikings, jolly jugglers, comedians, richly costumed lords and ladies, wacky wenches, merry musicians and more! History, legend and fantasy come to life with period encampments, educational displays, sword fighting, belly dancing and street theatre… n the mood to shop ‘til you drop? The village marketplace abounds with one of a kind merchandise, including jewelry, pottery, toys, crafts, period clothing and accoutrements. Our artisans will showcase fine wares not found in the average shopping mall. Hungry? Try a wide variety of taste tempting treats from the village kitchens. There will be plenty of fine foods to feast upon and non alcoholic cool drinks to wet your whistle. For more information, visit www.mayfaireren.com Complete article: Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire …This year's scenario takes visitors back in time to the mid-16th century town of Petit Lyon, France. There, Charles III, duc de Bourbon, has just been exiled from France after teaming with Henry VII of England and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to plot against King Francois. About 200 volunteers will help re-create the scenario with costumes and mannerisms from the era. Ninety merchants also will set up booths to sell pottery, silver and jewelry while 30 entertainment acts perform on nine stages throughout the fair's four-week run. New acts this year include MooNiE the Magnif'cent, a whistling acrobat comedian, and Willie's Wenches, a group of reject jugglers. The fair also will offer new food this year, including a beef kabob stand and English pub food. People who come to a Renaissance Faire want to try something different, so organizers do their best to bring in new merchants and products each year… INFORMATION: www.stlrenfaire.com Complete article: http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2008/05/14/entertainment/sj2tn20080513-0514stc-faire0.ii1.txt18th Annual Renaissance and Pirate Faire (CA) …Hundreds of people strolled the grounds decked out in Renaissance and Buccaneer attire, greeting each other with “ahoy” and “g’day to ye.” Feeling more than slightly out of place without a single sword, dagger, or eyepatch on me person, I headed to the vendors’ tents, where one could purchase everything from the tightest corset this side of the Atlantic to cheesy “Check Ye Booty Here” flags to legitimate bronze medallions engraved with ancient Celtic symbols… The food court played host to its share of historic themes, including a tavern with the ale (and plenty o’ rum) liberally poured by a fair wench, corn on the cob, and mouth-watering giant turkey legs, offered at special Mother’s Day prices to boot. (The use of utensils and napkins was largely frowned upon.) The afternoon’s entertainment included a demonstration of life in Queen Elizabeth’s court; exotic belly-dancing, although I’m not sure what part of Renaissance culture this portrayed; a pirate-folk band paying lyrical homage to rum, wenches, pillaging and plundering; and a battle reenactment that pitted a rogue pirate crew against the queen’s armed forces. As the cannons fired, I experienced simultaneous feelings of joy and fear hearing—hopefully for the only time in my life—dozens of children screaming “Off with his head!” and “Long live the queen!”… Complete article and picture gallery: Shakespeare Family Renaissance Faire (AK) …Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre — teaming up with the Society for Creative Anachronism — is putting on the fair at the end of June and is looking for people to fill demonstration booths, play period music and volunteer for the day. Almost every aspect of the event is open for more people, from musicians, like harpists and Celtic dancers, madrigal singers and small ensembles, to volunteers to take tickets, sell food or help keep the area clean. Plenty of vendors and demonstrations are already in place for the event, with the help of Society for Creative Anachronism members, who will create a mini village filled with stations where children and adults can get a close look at weaving, dancing and armored fighting. “Most of the people up here are into the indoor-style arts, like brewers and armor makers,” said Michele Griffin, the Baroness of the local SCA chapter. Throughout the day, Society for Creative Anachronism members will demonstrate historical re-enactments of fights. “After the demonstrations, we’ll have boffer stations allowing them to try different styles but in a safe environment,” Griffin said. The June 28 faire will include a “whole legion of belly dancers,” yarn spinning and glass blowing demonstrations, and a giant games area, including a life-sized chessboard and a ring-shooting area. A faerie land will be set up as a play area for children, and maze set up as the Knight’s Castle. “There will be a bunch of other larger-than-life games and a bunch of historical games,” Lively said. “We’ll have root beer and turkey legs and meat on a stick and potatoes and corn, and lots of desserts and all kinds of good things.” The Renaissance Faire is part of the Alaska Shakespeare Festival, new to the area this year, and includes Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre’s productions “Twelfth Night” and “Taming of the Shrew.” The event will include theatrical productions of “Taming of the Shrew” and a “rotten tomato play” performed by the junior company. “You can buy tomatoes and throw them at these bad actors,” Lively said…. Complete article: http://newsminer.com/news/2008/may/16/family-renaissance-faire-seeking-few-good-fools/34th Annual Ohio State University Medieval and Renaissance Faire …Rain or shine, hundreds of reenactors will transform the area into Buck's Eye Hollow, a village straight out of 16th century England, complete with singing, dancing and - of course - plenty of warfare. "Anything you want, we've got it," said sophomore Jennifer Torpie, guild master of the Ohio State Medieval and Renaissance Performer's Guild. The event is a collaboration between the guild and students in the Council for the Medieval and Renaissance Faire, whose members have devoted the entire year to organizing the festivities. "They do it all by themselves," said James Mulick, the guild's faculty advisor. "It baffles me how this goes on for three decades, combining all these amazing components, when students are coming and going every four years." Like family heirlooms, various aspects of the event are handed down through the years from guild member to guild member. Older "guildies" help the new recruits choreograph fight scenes and create their costumes from scratch. Other elements of the performances rely on independent research. For assistance with their accents, Torpie said the members turn to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." "It's actually pretty accurate," Torpie said with a laugh. The faire's theme, "The Road to Camelot," has the guild acting out the story of the transformation of a young servant boy (played by junior Steve Wohlwend) into the great King Arthur. When Merlin (junior Brittany Zweibel) comes to collect young Arthur, she meets opposition in the form of Lady Ester (alumna Reylissa Miranti)…. At one point, a heated debate between Merlin and Lady Ester is settled with a human combat chessboard, where rooks, bishops and the lot are replaced with weapon-yielding village members who must duke it out to retain their positions on the board. Later, an action-packed melee scene features more than a dozen guild members battling with swords and daggers, filling the air with the harsh clanking of metal on metal. For every draw of the sword, there is also a giggle, with the guild frequently throwing improvisational comedy into their act. Particularly funny moments happen whenever Torpie's character, town leper Jane Farmer, enters the scene. Forced to wear a belt equipped with a cowbell, Farmer's appearance spawns blood-curdling screams and sends town members running for the hills. The passion the guild members have for this event is apparent to their audiences. "These guys look like they've been having a lot of fun with this," said junior Sean Stevenson as he watched the 25 guild members rehearse on the South Oval. "I think it's pretty cool." Professional performers will also be on display at the faire, including Shakespearean actors, magicians, acrobats and warfare demonstrators. Students looking to get in on the action can participate in duels with foam swords called boffers. Dozens of vendors will also be available, and will be selling period food, crafts and clothing…. Complete article: http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2008/05/02/Arts/Ren-Faire.Fever.To.Sweep.Campus.This.Weekend-3362659.shtmlYe Old TimesLindsay Lohan is no longer a cast member in Ye Old Times, a comedy centering on a Renaissance Faire with Jack Black and David Arquette. http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/15859.html Actors and attendees braved the rain Saturday for the sixth annual Nebraska Renaissance Faire. Becoming a Renaissance Faire Lady Being Scarborough Renaissance Festival's newest monster hunter in the Mythical Monster Museum, an immersive magical attraction at Waxahachie's Scarborough Renaissance Festival, which is often called Scarborough Faire., is a tough gig, but worth it. Huge article, with lots of details, plus pictures: http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-05-15/news/becoming-a-renaissance-faire-lady#commentsVillagers to Reenact 16th Century Wedding (Malta) On Saturday evening the narrow winding streets of Zurrieq and the picturesque Xarolla windmill will provide the backdrop for a re-enactment of a 16th century wedding, which is being held for the second year running. Last year, the re-enactment was held on a Sunday morning, and although 16th century weddings were traditionally morning weddings, the organizers decided to go for an evening event this year. The re-enactment is again being organised by the cultural division of the St Catherine Band Club’s central committee. The wedding march will leave Republic Square in Zurrieq at about 6pm and the public is invited to participate as “guests”, as the “bride” and “groom” walk along the narrow streets together with the rest of the 65-odd actors – all Zurrieq residents this year. Annalisa Schembri from the organising committee of the event said the idea of the wedding re-enactment was to have the community at large join in, rather than simply act as spectators. “This is a different kind of street theatre. The setting provides for guests to speak to the actors. We’re also planning to have a transition between light and darkness at dusk, so we will create a complementary atmosphere to the quaint streets by lighting oil lamps (fjakkli) and candles,” said Ms Schembri. Actors and guests will walk through Carmel Street, where a number of villagers will exhibit traditional workmanship and crafts, while folk music will be played live. The “wedding ceremony” will be held on the parvis of St Bartholomeo’s Chapel, alongside the Xarolla windmill, and will be followed by a reception at the windmill, which will be open to visitors.Ironclad…Ironclad is sounding awesome. Variety reports that the film is the first project for the newly formed Mythic International Entertainment, and will be directed by Jonathan English. Why is this sounding so awesome? The cast. Already signed to the $30 million feature is Richard Attenborough, Pete Postlethwaite, Angus Macfayden, and Colm Meaney. Meanwhile, James Purefoy and Paul Giamatti are in talks to join the production as well. It's a historical feature full of talented testosterone! Set in 13th century England, the film will focus on "a small band of knights who defended Rochester Castle against the tyrant King John…" Complete article: http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/16/paul-giamatti-and-more-are-looking-to-get-ironclad-and-medieval/
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61 Medieval Marriage: Ritual, Religion, and Superstition Dancing at Your Renaissance Wedding The Politics and Passion of Secret Weddings Renaissance Magazine's Wedding Music Guide To Be Wed at the Faire The 2008 Wedding Photo Contest Winners Wedding Fashions for Lords and Ladies http://www.renaissancemagazine.com/backissues/issue61.html Upcoming Summer Issue: The Field of the Cloth of Gold Women's Voices: Songs of the Trobairitz Ravenswood School of Jousting Torture Museums Forsoothly Spoken: Old Norse Gods and Goddesses ......and much, much more! Decline Future Mailings Write to: Renaissance Magazine, 1 Controls Drive, Shelton, CT 06484 Click here |
