This weekend is the first day of the 2000 Texas Renaissance Festival here in Houston. I’m not a fanatic (re: I don’t get dressed up), but I go every couple of years. We went last year and had a blast. I love the arts and crafts, the food, the shows, and the costumes. So, do y’all like to go? Get dressed up? What’s your favorite part?
My wife and I attend the one here in Maryland religiously since we first met (6 years worth of dated goblets now). We have yet to dress up, outside a cloak I bought a couple of years ago when it rained. But my sister-in-law will assumably have our custom made clothing completed for next year’s festival.
This year we were pushing around a stroller for the first time, so it definately altered the experience. I usually end up 3 sheets to the wind and my wife complains for the next year how she always has to be the responsible one and stop drinking so she can drive us home. But this year I stayed sober, only had 3 or 4 beers. I didn’t really want to drink, it was just a different experience. Maybe I’m growing up. shivers at the thought
We are talking about going twice a year henceforth, once with the child(ren some day) and once with just the two of us and friends.
We did dress up our munchkin in a little velvet dress and bought her one of those floral circles for her head, though she doesn’t have much hair yet. She was/is adorable.
The last one I went to in Michigan, about 2-3 years ago, I saw like 10 women in Xena costumes. C’mon, if you are going to dress up for it, at least know what people really wore back then and not what is available at the local costume shop. But I am one to talk, I never dress up when I go.
I’ve gone every year for the past three years with my school and I love it. Do you people have those metal roses at your Renaissance fairs too? Those are the coolest. And they smell good. And I like the funnel cakes and the human chess games. I don’t dress up though; the only people I’ve seen dressed up there are the people that work there. Plus the dress I have is black and velvet and hot as hell.
Heheh, I collect MD Renn Fest goblets, too, and I’ll be getting my sixth on Sunday when my friend Glen and I make our annual trip to Crownsville. This year is a first for us, though, he’s bringing his girlfriend so I get to be the third wheel. Anniz, where are you? 
Nothing much to add, just wanted to give a big, hearty
Huzzah!
I like the ale stands the most. :). My cousin and her husband have a band of friends who all attend together. Last year they were the ‘Men of the Wood’. Basically a bunch of drunks in felt tunics and tights. It was hilarious. Good fun.
Dave
How about being REALLY historic about the RenRair?
You should:
-not bathe for at least a month…nothing like the aroma of ripe human skin!
-have a few missing teeth
-wear a “codpiece”(you will attract a lot of comments with this item)!
-don’t wash your hair!
-eat with your fingers
-challenge other (male) fairgoers to duels
yep, none of this prettified 15th-century stuff for me-let’s have the REAL thing!
Wish we had one here. If so, I would be there!
PS-I would skip the “real thing”, though. Back then, everyone was dirty and lacking in teeth. Nowadays, I would feel gross. Plus, my boss wouldn’t like it. Actually, neither would I!~Although, to be fair, eating with my fingers would be fun.
I have an exception to the non-bathing aspect.
The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a well rounded group.
There is the occassional woman with a specially made steel bra, (they make them there) which I don’t have a problem with. When it is cold like last weekend, well… where do their nipples go when they get hard against that cold metal? I think they might be lined.
While certainly not the majority, there are numerous women with those lovely cinches at their waist and chest that push their breasts up, spilling them out of the top of their blouse and just barely covering their nipples. Particularly the bar maidens (that is assuming alot eh?) Well, anyway, tis a lovely sight indeed.
I didn’t get to see her this year, but there is this one woman who works a beer stand and has these absolutely humungous breasts. She is a bit beefy on the rest of her body also. She usually works (for Montford) to the right side of the jousting arena. I can picture those gigantic mounds of fun-flesh dangling precariously from their bindings as I think back upon them today.
BTW… egkelly, my outfit next year will have a codpiece, probably padded or otherwise enhanced. There is alot of finger food, though I confess, I use the paper napkins provided. I refuse to remove my teeth. I’m not sure that public dueling is permitted, but they do sell real swords on the premises. You could put someone’s eye out if you aren’t careful after all.
I went to my first one this past summer, and I fell in love with it (especially since I “met” my current beau at this same one). Anyone ever go to the Great Lakes Ren Faire? I worked there three times…would have liked to have gone more, but I hadn’t known about it before. Yes, I dressed up because I was a vendor. It was fun. I went to one where I didn’t have to sell anything, and I felt weird not being dressed up.
I go to the MD Ren Faire every year. I have only been once so far, but am hoping to remedy that next weekend. I usually dress up, unless it is very hot and humid! There is nothing worse than being confined to a bodice and sweating.
I have been going to Ren-Fest for two or three years. I love it, I go every weekend with different people. I never used to dress up, but this year I’m working, so I have to wear a costume. It will most likely be one of those that push your breasts so far up and out that you can barely move for fear of falling out of it. It’s going to be…interesting.
This weekend is the last this year for the Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Anyone reading this who takes the opportunity to go should not miss Bob the Incredible Juggler, my favorite performer out of many I like.
Two years ago the only day I could go turned out to be rainy/drizzling and attendance was, of course, way down. Many acts could not go on, for safety’s sake as well as lack of audience. I was standing by the stage where Bob has his show, along with three or four other forlorn folks, when Bob came out and did part of his act just for us. Afterwards he told us he wasn’t passing the hat because he was just glad we were there.
I wrote a note the the Festival office and told them about his kindness and mentioned in lieu of the hat I had made a small donation to a local free medical clinic. They passed it on to Bob(not his real name) and I got a nice thank-you from him. He told me about his degree in social work and how he works with kids and seniors.
The whole Bonner Springs festival is great, but check out the juggler.
I’d probably go as a nobility/royalty type…
Sigh…
Or an Irish serving wench.
*** There are a lot of myths about the middle ages, like the “100lbs of Armor” and the “20lb” sword. Just didn’t happen that way, it’s usually come up from mis-interpreting historical documents.
Long live the current middle ages!