Today was a day to celebrate Easter at the Original Renaissance Faire! The tickets were $10 off for this day. There is so much music, people milling about, and activity at the market place entering the faire. This was the opening weekend and it continues on weekends to May 17th. Find more info about the faire at: https://renfair.com/socal/ The path was mostly dusty, filled with rocks, tree roots, and grass. The privies, port-a-potties, were open, but the park’s restrooms were gated closed, due to the L.A. County parks department. A shame since there many guests enjoying the Santa Fe Dam park itself. Many picnics were taking place at the grassy areas around the park.
A nice, formally dressed couples danced around the maypole. A group of singers sang, “Greensleeves.” At St. Cuthbert’s, a number of pole arm men set up to march in formation. Oso Forge had many fine blades which I saw up close. The master forge smith even showed me the seven and a half pound sword, which was like holding a traffic light pole, I could just hold the heavy blade. This makes me think of The 13th Warrior (1999) where the blond-haired Viking Herger (Dennis Storhoi) tosses the protagonist, Ahmed ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas), a sword. Fahdlan says, “I cannot lift this.” Herger about to pass him says, “Grow stronger.”
Another camp, St. Michael’s, that was by the joust had some displays of weapons. I was able test out one of the long pole arms. The grip was left hand out and right hand at the end of the pole arm. This was a small part of it used just to ward off any attacker. It wobbled at the spear point to confuse any opponent about direction. For a show, I went to Rogue’s Reef to catch a performance by the Poxy Boggards, there are many warnings that the show was R rated. I would think that it would be Aarrr rated. The thirteen member group has been at the faire since 1994. Their motto is they are "The Drinking Group with a Singing Problem." They sing bawdy songs including their hit, “I Wear No Pants.”
The Poxy Boggards sing!, photo by the author.
The audience was clapping and shouting out words not appropriate for an Easter Sunday, but the group leaned into the irreverence, fun! Their latest CD, available for streaming, is Blood, Sweat & Beers Part 1. Check them out at https://poxyboggards.com/ My activity was the axe throwing. $10 for 10 axes, these were light, all metal axes. The closest I got to the target was throwing upwards, it struck the target blunt side, and fell. There were not many bunnies, a few figures in white robes with red sashes, but there was a music, understanding and looking at Renaissance weapons, and a place filled with cosplayers. I saw pirates, princesses, Vikings, even a Mandalorian. There is still more entertainment, activities, food and merch to experience at the faire! The Original Renaissance Pleaure Faire, a fine way to celebrate Easter!
#RenaissanceFaire, #StCuthberts, #OsoForge, #StMichaels, #RoguesReef, #PoxyBoggards
