The Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival

While we were in North Carolina we took the grandchildren (and their parents) to the Renaissance Festival which is a little over an hour north of Charlotte.

These festivals are entertainment for people whether they like live shows, music, food, games, shopping, history taken lightly, or people watching.

We were greeted by Renaissance songs at the entrance.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell the visitors from the enactors.

We had no trouble recognizing the queen and her court.

There were some strange sights.

This is one of the eleven stages scattered throughout the grounds, all of which offered multiple shows.

For those who wanted to participate, there were carnival-like games.

Or if you wanted to be more active, you could go up...

and down...

on the Pirates Assault Catapult.

One of the shops...

Afterward you could walk around showing everyone your new finery.

There were educational exhibits like this one where you could learn more about the artisans of the era.  The man closest to the front made his  mail, link by link.

Here is a group of volunteers who educate those interested about the sighthounds popular in the Renaissance era.  You can learn more about the group at

www.HoundsofEastFairhaven.org

There are acts set up in the open areas as well as on the stages.  This is one I liked.

He didn't have business cards, told us to go on-line and type in Cale, juggler from Minnesota.  Sure enough that brings up websites where you can learn more about him.

After a pleasant afternoon, we headed south toward Charlotte.

23rd Annual Ohio Renaissance Festival, October 21, 2012

Tom and I didn't get to the festival this year until the very last day.    Although the morning temperatures were in the forties, by afternoon, the temperatures had risen to the sixties. The sun shone all day. The crowd was in a festive mood. As usual, there were costumes to buy or rent near the entrance.  You can see one of the entrances in the background of the picture below.

Little shops  sold everything from clothing to jewelry to blown glass objects to books and hair ornaments and swords and armor.

The queen and her courtiers strolled on the green.

Musicians sat here and there playing and singing songs of the Elizabethan age. Others performed in the ale house and on stages.

There were lots of opportunities for children and adults to become part of the festivities.
 

 

 

There were rides.

 

 

At noon, there was a parade of all the actors and actresses, and also the tradesmen who were selling their wares at the festival. Here is our granddaughter, Samantha, waving at us. 

 Later, Megan, left, and Samantha, right, joined the visitors at a picnic table and played a game of chess, using mustard and catsup packets for the men.

Pretzel sellers roamed about selling several different flavors as well as the standard salted ones.

After lunch, Tom and I went to the Pirate Comedy Show.

 

 

The Spanish Princess shown with one of the pirates showed up later at the Human Chess Match. The outcome of the chess match determined her fate.

 

The 22nd Annual Ohio Renaissance Festival...Oct.15,16...Last Weekend in 2011

This coming weekend is the last one for this year's Renaissance Festival at Harveysville, Ohio. Hours are from 10:30 AM to 6 PM. Once you pay the admission there are lots of free shows on eleven different stages. Many booths feature arts and crafts that you are not likely to find elsewhere. We had never gone to an Renaissance Festival until our granddaughter started working at this one. We missed a lot of years of fun. Every year and every weekend are different.

These are photos Tom took when we went to the festival in September. Enjoy them.

Lots of people come in costume.

Lots of people come in ordinary clothing also.

You can buy or rent costumes.

Sometimes children dress up.

This is one of the rides the children like.

This is a photo taken at one of the many shows.

This piper played at the Swordsmen Theatre.

Every year there are different plays on the Pirate Stage.

There are lots of eating places.

Cast in Bronze played on the Ups and Downs.

Every afternoon there is a human chess match. These are chessmen entering the board. They will battle for their side. Notice the weapons.

The chess match is always attended by Queen Elizabeth I.