Renaissance Festivals can just be a fun way to spend the day with friends or family, or they can be memories you'll never forget.

A FAIRE TO REMEMBER
by John-Paul, ATF Staff Writer

My first renaissance festival exposure was around 1981. As a kid I attended several festivals in Texas including the Texas Renaissance Festival and Scarborough Faire. It was fun, and I left with a wooden shield and sword and the memories of fresh sugar cane and winning a kiss from the intoxicated "kissing wench." Even though my involvement with festivals would not go much further than that until years later, the memories remained.

Somewhere out there a guy has a video tape of me and my friend Chris "fighting to the death" with our new swords. Somewhere out there is a group of now-adults who had their own hideout in the woods, complete with a leader looking for other kids to challenge. Somewhere out there is that kissing wench, who has probably sobered up by now.

Most of us have our own reasons for being into faires. For some, it is an excuse to party, not bathe, and get away with things that are simply not appropriate in daily life. To others, it is an excuse to take Monty Python and the Holy Grail to a new level. Some are in it out of love for history, some hate history but love fantasy and role playing. I am simply because I found it very enjoyable to pick on people and get away with it. I'll never forget the first time I had an audience actually paying me attention.

Memories: The stuff that faires are made of.

I remember walking through the Faire of the Midlands thinking "get a life" about those that were obviously far too into wearing tights. It's one thing to work at Disneyland because you are into the history and legacy of Walt, but it's quite another to play the part of Alice in Wonderland in the parade and spend your evening hours dressed up having tea parties. Yet, I don't think I'll ever forget the photo I was trying to take when a rogue jumped in front of my camera and posed, blocking my view. "Jerk," I thought, but I'll never forget that picture. Today I do the same thing.

It is unlikely that you'd see a bum on the street covered in dirt and filth that you would specifically remember ten years later. However, anyone who has seen the Illinois-based "Mud Show" at the Iowa Renaissance Festival and Harvest Faire will likely never forget the sight of grown men performing in a mud pit. One guy was an unemployed construction worker who had been hurt on the job and was doing this act to make ends meet. It's funny. I have such a terrible memory for things, yet I remember that detail.

At the Southern Illinois Renaissance Festival in 1999, I remember sitting on a blanket and listening to "Jester" tell his amazing stories. By day he was breathing fire and leading up what would most likely be classified as a circus sideshow. In the evening he led drumming circles and took care of those around him.

Of course, one of my favorite memories comes from the heatstroke-inducing Wybreg Village Renaissance Festival of 1999. It was my loudest event. I had the most bad puns. I also had a very captive audience during a freak downpour as everyone huddled under the tents and I marched in front of them soaking wet looking for a buyer of my roses. Funny, at all festivals I sell at, I always have the best luck when it rains.

And, of course, there's many other people I'll never forget such as Marco the Magnificent, whom I first met at SIRF. The Blair Witch Project was still showing at theaters and he went to see it. That night at the campsite someone put a pile of rocks in front of his tent. Cutting edge prank, that was.

I'll never forget John the Rose Guy from Council Bluffs. He took the time to tell me where to get roses from and how to prepare and sell them. Thanks to him, I was able to make this little hobby pay for itself. Without that, I'd probably never have been able to justify the expense in going to all these faires.

I could ramble on listing dozens of people and events connected to festivals that will remain etched in my brain forever. But I won't. Instead, I'll make you do it.

Do you have a favorite faire memory? Send it in and we'll try to feature it. Perhaps we'll even come up with some kind of prize for what we decide is the absolute "best" memory.

Help keep us online. Book your travel here, or patronize some of these folke:

1. Des Moines Ren Faire (IA)
2. Iowa Ren Festival (IA)
3. Iowa-Minnesota Pirate Fest (IA)
4. Greater Quad Cities Ren Faire (IL)
5. Midlands Pirate Festival (NE)
6. Nebraska Ren Faire (NE)
7. Ren Faire at Sleepy Hollow (IA)

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2. threegryphons.com

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2. gypsycomedyshow.com
3. mydragonstories
4. phoenixswords.atthefaire.com
5. piratecomedyshow.com
6. queenbea.atthefaire.com
7. revelers.atthefaire.com
8. wenchville.com

1. anothercrappypodcast.com
2. atthefaire.com
3. crocolyle.atthefaire.com
4. perin.atthefaire.com
5. renbanner.net
6. renreporter.com
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Permanent festivals in our area: Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bristol Renaissance Faire, Des Moines Renaissance Faire and Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
Other ATF sites: DisneyFans.com DMHauntedHouses.com