FL Ren Faire 2009

I love the Renaissance Festival. Not sure why, as it is almost always a dusty, back breaking, crowded, stomach-ache inducing affair, not to mention expensive. Every time I go, I either end up with intestinal distress, if you get my drift, or some crazy eye infection. But, I love the costumes, and the fantasy, and some of the shows are hilarious, and who doesn't love Picklina, the Pickle Lady? And some of the food is awesome, like the arepas! And I love the jewelry and music, such as the Minstrels of Mayhem (they are broken up now, but this is a fabulous version of Health to the Company), and Celtic Mayhem too! Fortunately, over the years I have cultivated some good friends who work for the various faires, so not only do I get in free sometimes, I usually have access to the inner sanctum, the back stage area, and the "after parties."

This year, while I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I went to the 19th Annual Faire with my friend D. I worked at this one the first year or two it was in town, but D actually went on the road with them for a while - they do a circuit of the US and go to Virginia, Wisconsin and some other places. There is another tour that goes around to Texas, Arizona and Colorado, etc. The people who work there live in campers and tents and usually get regular temp jobs during the week when they are in town, like some of my friends are massage therapists or they make jewelry, etc. D was on the road with a couple of different booths until she birthed twins and it became a little harder to live in a camper.

Here are some highlights and lowlights of this year's melee...It is always such a mix of traditional renaissance era costumes, and Robin Hood, and Lord of the Rings, with fairies and sorcerers, and wenches and fair maidens, and courtiers and courtesans, and then there are the ones who couldn't pick just one. Some people dp NOT look in the full length mirror before they leave the house, apparently, not that I am the fashion police. It did piss down rain for about 10 minutes and there is very little shelter to be had at Quiet Waters Park!




it takes all kinds, dontcha know?