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The Royal Faire was in town and I am excited to share my first visit to Ren Faire with you! The Renaissance Faire of Arizona comes to Apache Junction, AZ for a couple months every year. When I heard about it being one of the most interactive entertainment shows ever created with comedy, music, dancing, circus performers, jousting nights and HUNDREDS of costumes, I knew it was imperative that I attend to experience the era up close without the need to time travel!
Need I even mention that we attended in Renaissance costumes? I dressed up as a Mystical Sorceress accompanied by a Gypsy woman and the outlaw archer
Hood. The In Character Costumes that we wore were so beautifully detailed and demanded attention wherever we went. In Character is a high quality brand that manufactures exquisite and authentic designs. It was no surprise when we were stopped multiple times during the day by visitors asking to take our pictures including a local newspaper reporter!
Right at the entrance to the 24th Annual Arizona Renaissance Faire’s Village of Fairhaven, there was a cornucopia of sights and sounds waiting to be experienced. We were greeted by many merchants, wenches and pirates at the gate which brought the ambiance of an early European village celebration to life. The first memorable sight was the royal tent where the King himself asked for Robin Hood to come forth to be recognized. While I witnessed his audience with the royal court, I observed their regal attire with awe and amazement as each article of clothing was well-detailed, beautiful and looked very authentic!
Upon leaving the royal tent, we were greeted by a friendly, religious friar in costume on the dusty streets of Fairhaven. He reminded us to confess our sins at the chapel before returning home. Upon asking him to pause a while so we could capture the moment, he made me smile with his comical ‘take your time’ comment. As we continued down the streets, we observed the architecture of the buildings, the products the vendors offered for sale and the smiles of all the towns’ visitors. One of the tents we came across was filled with bows, arrows and targets. Robin Hood couldn’t help himself and showed them his archery skills which wowed the crowd!
Lunch time was approaching and the scent of something delicious was lingering in the air. We followed our noses and came upon a hand-built home made of sticks, dirt and clay with wooden beams and a straw roof that was covered with thick vines. It was a true medieval masterpiece! Robin Hood checked it out to make sure it was safe for us ladies to approach. We were welcomed by a group of women who invited us over to learn about their food preparations. A cauldron hung over a fire pit and they were prepping corned beef and cabbage from scratch for the Saint Patrick’s Day dinner feast. It was amazing to see these hard-working women preparing dinner from scratch and in their authentic peasant dresses and clothing.
Soon after, I came by a woman in a beautiful costume whom I recognized as the Red Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Her attire was regal, her hair was primped and she was clad in lots of jewelry for a dramatic effect that had her standing out from the crowd around her. She was cozily perched next to a woodworker who was hand-carving wooden spoons. They were both sassy which made them a pleasure to speak with. Across the way from where they sat, there was belly dancer entertainment. They performed for the crowds in beautiful costumes with smooth moves. So not only did we have good conversation, but we were also able to witness amazing entertainment at the same time.
My gypsy friend and archer outlaw saw many things afterward which included a Dungeon Museum where I was able to hang out with the wild Aslan of Narnia (who, of course, was a statue) and go by a caravan that offered rides on exotic animals such as elephants, camel and emu. There was a woman in a beautiful gypsy costume selling single wildflowers of all sorts. Robin Hood bought a large yellow sunflower for his gypsy companion. She loved it and it fit perfectly with her gypsy costume which she stuck into her coin-trimmed waist scarf.
The crowds were gathering in the far end of the 30-acre renaissance town. We followed them to see what was happening. As we neared an arena, we saw it was the knight jousting tournament. There was no question about it – we were going to attend this event! The royal family sat high above the bleachers of attendees to observe and honor the winners of the competition. There were four knights who competed for the glory of king and country. The jousting event ended with a brawl between the last two competitors who challenged each other to a duel until the death. The king honored their request and told them it would take place the following day. It was a sight to see!
There were so many sights to see at this 30-acre medieval amusement park. It offered an adventure that the whole family could experience. We all agreed that we needed to make a weekend trip out of it so we could experience more of the Arizona Renaissance Festival. I know I loved my medieval era costume so much it will be hard to look at anything else for the 2013 25th Annual celebration!
Shop our Renaissance Costumes , Medieval Costume Accessories.
~Nova~
Quote of the Day: ”There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.” -Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596)
