What is a Renaissance Fair?

**LeeAnne** · 24th July 11, 01:31 AM

Thanks guys!

I'd love to see English Heritage or Historic Scotland sanctioning one of these at their sites. They tend to be quite hot on ensuring historical accuracy, so I'm not sure whether Shrek, a Jedi Knight or a Star Trek character would get in though!

**BonnetMaker** · 24th July 11, 05:01 AM

I dunno, I was at the Kelmarsh Festival of History last weekend and after hours as soon as the public were gone we had a giraffe, a frog and at least half a dozen fairies wandering round, not to mention the general party dresses and silly hats in the beer tent

**OC Richard** · 24th July 11, 05:56 AM

I've been attending our local Southern California "Renaissance Faire" on and off since the 1970s. It does try stay with the theme of Elizabethan England.

When I first went I was struck by the odd blend of Renaissance period stuff and Hippie culture... which goes to figure, what with guys in long hair, baggy natural fibre clothing in pastel colours, and what not. One certainly came away with the notion that pot was widespread in Renaissance England.

The paid performers have to stick with the period dress. There is much that is authentic: performances of Shakespeare, Shawm and Sackbutt ensembles, and so on.

On top of that is overlaid all sorts of wackiness. There was a group of lithe young women dressed in cat ears, leopard spot body paint, and little else.

Yes there was a group dressed in classic 60s Star Trek uniforms, and just as if they had been beamed down to explore a new planet, they went around taking tricorder readings from everything and discussing what they saw amongst themselves.

About kilts, here we have a large group that participates in the Faire which are dressed up as Renaissance era Highland and Irish warriors. Their backstory is that they are in England on their way to the continent to participate in some war there. They are very persnicketty about their costumes and everything is as authentic as they can make it. No modern kilts! No recognisable tartans! They are careful about all that.

The Faire has long been most popular amongst young people here, say 18-25 or so. It's having fun dressing up and having some drinks and having a good time.

The food and drink, as least in the 70s and 80s, was excellent and at least somewhat authentic, with Cornish pasties and Guinness and mead and hard cider and various ales.

Funny... all the years I've been to Faire and I don't think I have a single photo.

**Mark Stephenson** · 24th July 11, 06:56 AM

Two of the Ren fairs around my area (Cincinnati) have expanded and now have a Jacobite weekend. We have only been to one, and it was quite a bit of fun.

**Inchessi** · 24th July 11, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Mark Stephenson

Two of the Ren fairs around my area (Cincinnati) have expanded and now have a Jacobite weekend. We have only been to one, and it was quite a bit of fun.

When are they? Can you post a link? This post has got me looking for one. They look like a lot of fun.

Found it:
http://www.renfestival.com/

**Mark Stephenson** · 24th July 11, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Inchessi

When are they? Can you post a link? This post has got me looking for one. They look like a lot of fun.

Found it:
http://www.renfestival.com/

...and here is the link to the Kentucky Ren Festival:
http://www.kyrenfaire.com/content/eventinfo.html

**jhockin** · 24th July 11, 08:13 AM

They are not limited to the USA; we do have them in Canada ( both east, mid & "wet-coast"). The first one I went to, was in the early '70's, outside/east of San Francisco; and if I recall correctly, anyone 'in costume' was given free admission - don't know if that is still the practice.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the whole Renfaire thing started with these folks:
http://www.sca.org/

**WillieMacG** · 24th July 11, 10:44 AM

"What is a Renaissance Fair?"

It's kinda like a Biker Rally only without the bikes.

**Nighthawk** · 24th July 11, 12:23 PM

I managed to make a Rennie mad at me... She wanted to go to the Highland games in her pirate garb. I made the mistake of telling her that the games aren't a fantasy festival, like the Ren Fest, and that that kind of clothing would be out of place. I'm curious- how many pirates, faeries or other such costumes are seen at Highland games in Scotland? The games are an athletic competition and modern cultural festival, right? Was I off base and out of line telling her that going in costume wouldn't be appropriate?

**Woodsheal** · 24th July 11, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

I managed to make a Rennie mad at me... She wanted to go to the Highland games in her pirate garb. I made the mistake of telling her that the games aren't a fantasy festival, like the Ren Fest, and that that kind of clothing would be out of place. I'm curious- how many pirates, faeries or other such costumes are seen at Highland games in Scotland? The games are an athletic competition and modern cultural festival, right? Was I off base and out of line telling her that going in costume wouldn't be appropriate?

No you weren't. The typical "Jack Sparrow"/"Golden Age of Piracy" (ca.1690-1720) type "pirate garb" would be as silly at Highland Games as it is at "Renaissance" fairs!