Renaissance Festival Tampa Florida Sterling New York Marin County California

Gypsywagon Courtesy of Renaissance Faire

Renaissance Festivals, Faires, or Fair

My first Renaissance Festival was in California. While visiting a former Raleigh Ski and Outing friend in Berkley, California, she decide we should head out to Marin County to the Renaissance Faire. She didn’t say where we were going or what to expect. The surprise on my face to see all these people dressed in period costumes. Speaking with accents to match the period. Entering the village with woman with pushed up breast and guys dressed with tight pants and kissing areas. Knights on horses. Games of the times of England abound. At the time, I thought this was a California thing.

Knights on Horses Courtesy of Renaissance Festival

Many hand carved or sculpted items or weaved or other crafted items can be found at these Faires. These do well because it is difficult to find the craftsman and the craft in one place centered around these themes. A great time not to buy mass-produced products.

Photo courtesy Sterling Renaissance Festival

Then I moved to Connecticut and found a Renaissance post card at one of those Tourist Stands for Sterling, New York. I made the trip several times. The first I was expecting the same as the One in California. They are not the same. There was a mini play of Shakespeare in an outdoor amphitheater (small-scale). Chess players who were humans and they stood there for the whole game as game pieces. Jousting from horseback. This was fun to see the differences and disappointing to not see some of the same things. It was a place one could get crystals and statues that would speak to hobbits and Gandalf now.

Photo courtesy Renaissance Festival

Now I just found out Tampa has a Renaissance Festival on Weekends that started February 26 and ends April 17th. This only runs on the Weekends where parking is free. Theme weekends.

Photo courtesy Sterling Renaissance Festival

Many attendees get dressed in costume and become part of the Village intermingling with those actors as actors. As a visitor they cannot be distinguished. This now goes on my list to do before this season ends.

At this time, I realize these Renaissance Festivals are all over the country now and are not just  a California thing. Find one in your area. They are at all different times of the year. Go have fun immersing yourself in another time period.

Resources

• Original Creator dies http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_17186226
• Story and Information about the Renaissance Fair and its growth
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_fair
• http://www.renfaire.com/Sites/
• http://www.forestfaire.com/origins/origins1.html
• http://www.forestfaire.com/
• Story about the evolution from the early days to decades after:  http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/Festivals/Archives/Ren_Faire.htm
• Sterling, New York http://www.sterlingfestival.com/
• Tampa Festival Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bayarearenaissance
• Tampa Renaissance Festival http://www.bayarearenaissancefest.com/
• Michigan Renaissance Festival http://www.michrenfest.com/
• Florida Renaissance Festival http://www.ren-fest.com/
• Northern California Renaissance Faire http://www.norcalrenfaire.com/
• Washing Well Wenches http://www.washingwellwenches.com/
• Washing Well Wenches http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washing-Well-Wenches/81790287262

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