The Wybreg Village Renaissance Festival started in 1999. There were two events in 2000, and the fourth festival is planned for the first three weekends in October, 2001. The event is designed to raise funds and awareness for the non-profit Renaissance Foundation.

BUILDING WYBREG
by John-Paul, ATF Staff Writer

Some of you may be wondering why Willa and myself have been visiting the small Iowa town of Bonaparte so often lately. Bonaparte is the future location of Wybreg Village. "Isn't that a renaissance festival that already exists?" you might ask. Yes, it is, but that is not the Wybreg Village we are speaking of. That event is officially known as the Wybreg Village Renaissance Festival. That is, it is the renaissance festival located in Wybreg Village. The festival is merely an event to help raise awareness (and funds) for the true purpose of the Renaissance Foundation.

About Renaissance Foundation.

The Foundation started in 1992 after two of the founders were driving back from a visit at the Shakopee renaissance festival. Why is it, they pondered, that there was no place for people like them to hang out and have fun alongside all those who were putting on the show? During the next few hours of brainstorming they decided to create a renaissance festival that didn't end: a full time real community created in the style of what made festivals so interesting and fun.

In the years the followed, the non-profit Renaissance Foundation would evolve as board members were assembled and mission statements were crafted. Today, the Foundation is located in the small southeast Iowa town of Bonaparte in the main street Opera House. (And no, there are no operas here. It contains office space and a large meeting room with attached kitchen.) Their goal is to create a community on 1200 acres of land just outside the town. This land will eventually contain a residential area and Castle Wybreg. The Castle will be built in the style of classic Great Halls of the renaissance. Inside the large structure will be a museum, theater, library, classrooms, and offices for the Foundation. It will have an open courtyard with shops operated by artisans who reside within the community. A working vineyard and winery will be present as well. In some ways it will almost be a year round renaissance festival. Visitors will be able to tour the museum, browse the shops, partake in plays or musical performances, and even spend vacations on the site.

Renaissance Foundation Mission Statement:

"To give to the culture, philosophy, arts, and society of the Renaissance historical area an established community in which to explore the past, present, and future of humanity."

This is no theme park, folks. The Foundation is working hard to ensure that modern elements are kept far away from the village. The presidential area, for instance, is planned to be vehicle free. People will walk down; groceries will be delivered in carts; telephone poles and power lines will be invisible. From the nearby roadway there will be very few signs that a community even exists, and thus the residents won't be exposed to a view of passing trucks or the noise of traffic. Great steps are being taken to make the community self sufficient in many ways. There will be gardens and shared communal areas. Single family dwellings will be limited, if even allowed at all. Residents will know their neighbors. In many ways it sounds much like what Walt Disney had wanted his theme park Epcot to actually be when it was first conceived in the 1960s. Wybreg Village, however, will be more like an E.P.C.O.Y.: Experimental Prototype Community of Yesterday.

But what about the festival?

The fun of an annual renaissance festival will remain part of the plan. A full scale permanent jousting arena is set to be built next to the Great Hall. Today, however, the festival's arena is little more than a fenced off area in a large open pasture. Those who have visited the Wybreg festival certainly will remark on how beautiful the property is with no power lines or buildings in site. However, the dream of the Foundation can only be reached if enough funding is received. For this reason, supporting this little renaissance faire "in the middle of nowhere" is very important to anyone who believes in the fun of the festivals or the history of the renaissance time period. Ultimately the real Wybreg Village may be the place every rennie has to see, much like Disneyland is to Walt Disney fans.

Sleepwalking.

Today all of this is just a dream (albeit a very solid and planned out one) of the foundation. The land is still owned by a respected Bonaparte resident. He and his wife (and their family) have done more than you can imagine to help make the festivals possible, but no one person or family can magically make the Great Hall appear...

...but we will try.

Let's take a moment and pretend funding was achieved and Wybreg Village has been built. AtTheFaire has scheduled a Wybreg Invasion Weekend and a group of us is visiting the site for the first time. Here is our interpretation of what it could be like...

Welcome to Wybreg Village.

You turn in off of the paved road where the flags are waving in the air. A short drive through the field leads you to a parking lot. There are cars lined up all around you. After finding a spot, you leave your vehicle and walk towards a tall castle wall. Atop the protective wall is a guardhouse and below that is a small bridge which goes over a dry moat.

You walk over the bridge and into the structure until you come to an open air courtyard. You are now within the walls of the Keep. There are some shops along the wall you just passed through and a museum building off to your right. Almost directly in front of you is the three story Great Hall which contains a theater, library, classroom and office facilities.

As you look around you notice that the ground is both lawn and paving stones. The walls are rough limestone which gives Wybreg Castle the appearance of an ancient family Keep. You imagine that this courtyard would have been used to house livestock and provisions during times of local conflicts. In those days, surrounding villages and manor homes would retreat to the castle and its walled defense for protection. Today, though, you are here by invitation. You are here to enjoy a fun and peaceful festival.

You walk past the Great Hall and down some stairs near a water well. Directly in front of you is a large jousting arena. It is silent at the moment, but you can envision the tournament that will be taking place shortly. You take a foot path to the right which leads you around and out of the Keep. At this point you find yourself at the top of a large hill looking down. This amazing view is one of the things everyone remembers about their visit here.

At the distance bottom of the hill is a festival in progress. There are many tents with flags waving in the air. There are stages alive with activity. There are people roaming about. It’s looks like long walk to the bottom, so you elect to take a horse drawn carriage ride down the hill instead.

After a short ride down you step out of the carriage and find yourself directly in the festivities. Beyond the merchant tents, tavern and stages you see nothing but trees. There isn’t a power line in sight. Behind you at the top of the hill sits the magnificent structure you just walked through. It is now time to explore. Welcome to the Wybreg Village Renaissance Festival.

To the right of the village and through the woods is a creek. Beyond this creek is the real Wybreg Village—a living community with full time residents. A historic campsite is also nearby but no cars are ever found on the site. Groceries, supplies and luggage is all delivered by handcart, donkey or wagon. Those who live and work here do so without the intrusion and noise of the modern world.

And this, my friends, is only the beginning...

To learn more...

If you know of any generous millionaires that would like to help, please have them contact the Renaissance Foundation immediately. All contributions are welcome. Funds are needed as well as volunteers for the festival which will happen the first three weekends this October, 2001. At the very minimum we hope everyone will schedule a weekend to come visit the site and see for yourself how wonderful this will be.

Who:

Mission Statement:

"To give to the culture, philosophy, arts and society of the Renaissance historical era an established community in which to explore the past, present, and future of humanity."

What:

Renaissance Foundation:

A non-profit corporation, 501 c (3) mandated as education/museum.

When:

Researched since 1992. Established in January 1997, Des Moines, Iowa. Relocated to Bonaparte, September 1999.

Where:

Administrative Offices:

616 First Street (Whiteley Opera House), Bonaparte, Iowa

Annual Festival & Future Administrative Site:

1200 acres west of Bonaparte, east of Bentonsport on the north side of the Des Moines River.

Why:

Wybreg Village (1300-1650):

A residential community of specialists interested in the historic era internationally, equestrian/pedestrian (no automobile traffic on site), hosting their peers & the public to participate in multiple venues: artists & artisans, theater, film, television, humanities research, museum collections from around the world, food, relaxation, workshops, concert series, corporate retreats, & special events.

Learn more. Join us.

Please visit www.renfound.org for Renaissance Foundation contact information or other requests. To see photos from the previous three Wybreg Village Renaissance Festivals, please see our Faire Photos section. Most importantly, help us do what we can to support the mission of the Foundation. It is a wonderful thing we can all be a part of...

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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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