The 60th Anniversary of Ren Faire and it also the last weekend! Huzzah! Its page says to arrive before 9 a.m., good advice since there was an incredible line of cars that stretched several blocks, just to get in. The faire is located at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale. The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire started in 1963 and it continues to today and beyond. It is a cosplay spectacular; I saw knights, fairies, princess (including Disney versions), pirates, and plague doctors. There were also some exceptions like three members of Starfleet, I mentioned to them if time displacement happened, there was a Tardis box near the joust.
The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, photo by the author.
I also saw a Skeksis, who was dressed as the Chambrelain, SkekSil! I even saw the Black Knight, who had a stump instead of his left arm, “`tis but a scractch.” Everyone was everything, costumes from home, and also you can rent them or just pieces. It seemed like everyone was into the spirit of cosplaying. This is not just a few brave and fun souls like at comic conventions, this every third person, they are everwhere. You walk into Port Deptford and are immediately transported to 1580s Elizabethan England, time seems to be fluid except the Queen, “Your Majesty”, and her court. All eras and places, foods, and entertainment, are all merged together. Along the lakeside, the path can be paved or dirt, uneven, rocky, and crossed with tree roots.
I saw one fellow wander the faire looking at a map! When you walk into the faire, you are part of it, you will be given a compliment or a clever joke. The path wanders around the faire with booths. Vendors call out their fares, good, or drink. I walked in and wanted to buy everything. Swords, garlands, and artwork in booths around the faire. There is also a massive food area with fruit ice, massive turkey legs, and chocolate covered strawberries. There are rides like the Dragon Swing, Fools Maze, and the Zip Line. Also, activites like the Axe Throw, Archery, and my favorite, St. Jude’s School of Fencing. It features a Petting Zoo goats and donkeys perfect for kids. My intent was really to see the shows. Starting with MooNiE the Magni’Cent. I caught him trying to get an audience member to hold him up for his balancing act by pushing his behind!
MooNie communicates through whistles like Harpo Marx, the best part is the audience involvement, he wants everyone to cheer, react, and laugh. He has worked for 20 years perfecting his act juggling fire devil sticks. Don’t forget to check out his site https://themoonieshow.com. If you like the shows, honestly, give a little for the performers, they travel, train, and work really hard to entertain you. I caught a little of the Poxy Brogards show which has some naughty songs, not for young ones. Another noteworthy show was Kaitlin in the Draiku Aerial Dancer performance, impressive climbs, poses, and acrobatics with silks from 30 feet in the air! Check out her work at: https://www.kaitlin-chin.com. More info about the Ren Faire is at: https://renfair.com/socal/ It ends tomorrow, May 22nd, but I hope everyone can go at some time or has had a great time this year
#RenaissancePleasureFaire, #WhereFantasyRules
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