Happenings for Rennies:

• Throughout the month, English Country and International Folk Dancing Lessons are offered by the Fairfield Folk Art and Dance Co-op in Fairfield, IA. See their site for specific information.
• June 12 - Irish Jam Night at Java Joe's in DSM.
• June 16 - 17 - Jubliee College Olde English Faire in Brimfield, IL. (ATF will be there)
• June 16 - 17 - Hamlet of Mid-Missouri Ren Faire in Sedalia, Missouri.
• June 18 - Ed Conlow's Traditional Irish Music Night at Java Joe's in DSM.
• June 23 - 24 - A Renaissance Affair in Osceola, Iowa. (ATF will be there)

Feature: Puzzle Fun!

• Orckes & Trolles — In celebration of their new CD (which we think you should buy right now from their web site).
• Rufus Scaring Wenches — What does it mean when Rufus sneezes on you twice in one day?
• Parading Royalty — Queen Verity and King Thomas are just radiant!
• Wild Mountain Thyme — They have a new member and are looking for a new name.
• Renaissance Sword Theatre — Yes! They have a few more photos on our site!

Every two weeks we are going to turn five of our very own photos into a Java-based puzzle for you to solve! If you have a suggestion as to a photo that would make a good puzzle, let us know! To see past puzzles, go here.

Review: My Trip to the Newman Ren Fest OR How Madeline Almost Became a Pirate

Review: My Waterloo Days, by a Former Faire Virgin

My experience this weekend (June 3rd) started long before the actual event, and was nothing but positive. I came to Iowa to visit my best friend, who also happens to moonlight as Mistress Willa of the Washer Well Wenches. It was she who...found me some more appropriate clothes for the event....I thought I was prepared. Umm, no. That was only the start. [more...]

Album Review: Orckes & Trolles - The Wool Album

Ten years ago Robert Uy, for reasons unknown, formed the "alternative madrigal" group Orckes & Trolles. For the past decade various versions of this four member group have been entertaining at renaissance festivals and other events in the Midwest. In June of 2001, their first audio CD, the Wool Album, was released at the Salisbury Faire in Des Moines, Iowa. [more...]

Plug: AtTheFaire's Pub

Did you know that we have message boards on our site? Well, we do! Each festival in the Midwest has a topic (the Jubilee and Wybreg festivals have had quite a bit of activity lately) and there are more topics to chat under. Just register to get your own handle and start posting! Let us know what you think about ATF or just introduce yourself to the rennies at large! Go to the pub...

Review: Keepers of the Kingdom

On May 26, 2001, in Waxahachie, Texas, a documentary filmmaker, Christopher Gomersall, had a private film screening of Keepers of the Kingdom for select (?) faire participants from the various Texas shows (including Scarborough Faire, Hawkwood Festival and Texas Renaissance Festival).

The film itself was amusing, interesting, funny and worth the time spent to watch it. [more...]

Poll: The Rennie Perspective

Many thanks to Ophelia of Shattock Schoole of Defence for suggesting this week's poll question. She's not only deliciously beautiful, she's brilliant, too! Just don't mess with her. She knows how to use her sword and she has a pet Scotsman...

Take me to the poll!

If you have any questions you'd like to see answered, suggest a poll topic.

Review: Greater St. Louis Ren Faire

As I watched the King and Queen stroll by under a liquid crystal blue sky, I let the sights, sounds and smells of a perfect Renaissance day soak into my soul.

This is what it's all about... with Milady Jeanne (dressed in 1530's Venice merchants daughter garb) on my arm, I strolled in the woods and hills of Petite Lyon, at the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire at Wentzville. There were wenches wenching, falconer's falconing, rogues and knights, and the air was filled with the shrill cry of the hucksters selling their wares. [more...]

Review: Ren Faire of the Midlands, Surface of the Sun

Omaha is my hometown, so I was really quite excited about finally becoming a performer at it (other than being a part of an English encampment). I knew that this festival was really different from the others we normally attend. It's a smallish faire that tries to be big. Kind of reminds me a Chihuahua. It wants to bully the other dogs like a Rottweiler, but it's still just this dinky, bald, glorified rat, so it has some issues. [more...]

Feature: Recipe of the Week

• Funges from 14th Century England

Every week we are going to feature a scrumptious recipe from Cariadoc's Miscellany for you to try! For past recipes we have featured on our site, go here.

Get Registered with Us

Want to meet other rennies? Want other rennies to be able to meet you? Go to our Faire Folke: Rennies section and get registered today! That way, rennies in your area can find you and send you an e-mail.

Also, if you are a renaissance faire Performer or Merchant, we'd like to list your contact information, as well! Quite a few faires use our database to find quality people for their events!