SCARBOROUGH FAIRE REVIEW
by Jamie Pritchett, ATF reader

April 14th was the opening of the Ren Faire Season in Texas at Scarborough Faire. (If you don't count the Irish Festival!) I had spent a little time getting some costumes and ren wear together for some friends to wear and also for myself. . . with childlike excitement, I slept with visions of turkey legs dancing before my eyes.

On Saturday morning I arose at 7:30 to complete my preparations. I started my requisite sausage balls and coffee and started putting my ice chest together. By the time Jennifer, a friend and ren faire "newbie", called to say she'd be running a little late, I was pretty close to ready, but I used the extra time to my advantage making pocket bread sandwiches.

Jennifer was concerned that with the weather forecasts calling for rain we'd be better to change to another day. "Rain or shine, Jennifer. Get you're hinney over here, 'cause we're goin'."

By the time she arrived I had orange juice, Irish music and the nag champa going. Jennifer arrived wearing her mundanes with "duck" boots and armed for bad weather. After some sausage balls, orange juice and coffee she was ready to go. (The sausage balls are guaranteed to soak up 10 times their weight in excess alcohol from the night before!)

We packed up the truck and headed south to Waxahatchie, Texas (about 30 minutes south of Dallas). It was warm but cloudy and muggy after the rain of the previous evening. Just before Loop 635 in Dallas it started to rain fairly heavily, but you could see the sun peaking through clouds in the southern sky.

It's an easy drive to Scarborough: 35E south to waxahachie and right on HWY 66. About a mile and there you are. The weather started looking up on the way down. We listened to some Celtic Harp and Iris music on the way down. I noticed that many of the cars around us were carrying people "dressed kinda funny!"

As we pulled up the sun was peaking through the clouds and the spring green of the grass and trees was that perfect transient green that we only see in Texas for a few weeks. From the looks of the parking, rennies are an optimistic bunch. The lot was filling up quickly.

We hopped out and I tuned up my outfit and we walked down to the ticket gates. Colorful flags festooned the gates and there was a minimum of special offers and the like to inhibit our walk to the gates. I picked up a season pass for $34 and Jennifer got the single day ($15.99 - not very optimistic!)

As we walked in the front gates the first thing you see is a small gazebo containing a troop of celtic musicians. Flute, hammer dolcimer, mandalin and drums create a vale of sound that you pass through to all the shops and taverns. Inside the faire the grounds are divided into three sections Pecan Grove, Crown Meadow and Hollyfield. There are a dozen stages where musicians, comedy troops, weapons
exhibitions, scottish games, magic (Zoltan, the adequate), and even belly dancing. Pecan Grove, one of the three sections, is the home of the Kings tavern where most of the people dressed in Elizabethan costume gather. The Scotts congregate near the Fat Friars and White Horse Tavern.

Amazingly we met some friends right off the bat. Diane and Murray are old hands at Ren Faires and had fabulous costumes. Jennifer knew Diane previously but had never met Murray, her husband. In any case we knocked around with them for most of the day, drinking Guiness and eating turkey legs, listening to the music and seeing the raucous entertainment, swordplay, the parade, and even listening to professional "insulters" that you can hire for a minimum charge.

We left at close (7:00 PM) that night and were back home just before dark. Weather was a little muggy but otherwise fine. Lots to see and do. I recommend it highly. Especially if you look good in tights!

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)

1. thescotsdragon.com
2. threegryphons.com

1. danzamystique.com
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
7. sirclisto.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