ENAISSANCE FAIRES AND COMIC BOOK CONFERENCES — WHAT COULD THESE TWO SEEMINGLY OPPOSITE STYLE EVENTS HAVE IN COMMON ? AS SOMEONE WHO HAS VOLUNTEERED
AT VARIOUS REN FAIRES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS , AND MORE RECENTLY WITH COMIC CONS , I CAN TELL YOU THESE TWO WORLDS EACH OFFER AMAZINGLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES , WHILE OVERLAPPING MORE OFTEN THAN YOU WOULD THINK ; IT IS A WONDERFUL AND SOMETIMES ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE .
You may be saying to yourself , “ I don ’ t have a clue what she is talking about ! What exactly are Ren Faires and comic cons ?” Well , dear reader , I ’ m willing to bet you ’ ll be looking for ways to attend an upcoming event after I expose you to the myriad ways you can enjoy yourself as a patron , or even as a volunteer .
REN FAIRES
My first experience with a Renaissance Faire was as a volunteer . I did some sewing for the cast of a now defunct festival . I told those in charge that I wasn ’ t interested in being a cast member , but I was happy to help behind the scenes . Eventually they talked me into being a background performer . I didn ’ t have to “ act ,” just follow along ( improvise ) with whatever the lead actor was doing onstage . I figured I could do that . It sounded easy enough . A day came though when the lead actor couldn ’ t perform in the show . They asked me to step up . I knew all the lines , all the moves . I was terrified , but I did it ! Fast forward twenty years , I am now a founding member and on the board of a growing faire , the Spokane Renaissance Faire located in the titled city in Eastern Washington . Yep , I ’ m a “ Rennie ,” a term used to describe someone who is regularly involved in Ren Faires . I wouldn ’ t have it any other way .
Renaissance Faires are typically held as outdoor events where a historical period is recreated — usually medieval — including the Viking period ; Tudor which focuses on Henry VIII ; Elizabethan which covers the reign of Elizabeth I of England ; or pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries . Regardless of the period portrayed , volunteers often spend time learning about costuming , language , dancing , and etiquette of the period , as well as important historical facts and characters , all in the name of creating a believable world for faire goers to experience . The quality of the productions sometimes achieves near Hollywood movie set levels .
You will find a multitude of characters to delight and entertain you — historical characters ( i . e ., kings and queens and knights , along with their royal court ), plus merchants , peasants , and faeries . Most characters love to interact with patrons , drawing them into their world , and most patrons happily play along . A majority , though , are there for the shopping , food , and shows . Who can blame them ?
In a faire marketplace , you will find arts and wares not found at typical craft shows or art festivals . Plus , where else can you walk around with a huge smoked turkey leg while you peruse unique wares for sale ? Visit the tavern and enjoy a pint of honey mead or ale while listening to foot-stomping songs belted out by a Celtic band , or perhaps you ’ d prefer to see belly dancers , magicians , jugglers , puppeteers , sword fighting , or everyone ’ s favorite , jousting ! As my good friend and avid participant in Ren Faires , Lena Cooley , says , “ There is something for everyone .”
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