ON Sunday of the Labor Day weekend, we went to the annual Renaissance Festival just south of Minneapolis. This was the 40th year it has been held--and it certainly was more of everything than we saw last year. (I believe last year there was some problem with the contract negotiations over the land where the festival is held, so some vendors, etc, were scared off for the year.) I believe that 25% of the people at the festival were in costume, there were many more vendors, and it was wall-to-wall people the entire day. While I was able to get some pictures, with the amount of people walking around, I didn't get as many as I would have liked to get--OR as good quality pics as I wanted to. (I actually got a picture of a guy's butt as he got in the way at the last minute. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very good butt. ;)) So, for some highlights and pictures that I actually managed to get:
--There were FOUR weddings held on the grounds that day. We got to see a couple of the wedding parties, but the 'wedding' of the King and Queen was the big attraction. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the wedding, but managed to see the wedding party walk through the grounds afterward.
--We watched several of the fantastic shows that are constantly offered throughout the day. We LOVED the 'Washing Well Wenches' so much--a couple of women who were absolutely hysterical. And their audience participation made me laugh until tears were streaming down my face.
--One of my favorite 'attractions' was the Irish Wolfhound that one woman brought with her for the day. He was so gorgeous and was happy to see all of the people. Every time someone went up to him to give him a pat, he actually smiled! And at 165 pounds, he HAD to smile or people would have been terrified of him. :)
--I didn't really eat any more this year than I did last year--mostly because of the long lines. Everywhere you went, it looked like Christmas at Walmart--and you had to elbow your way through crowds constantly. I did manage to drop a few bucks on several things that I wanted: four rings, a hair comb, and two ceramic mugs. K bought himself a ceramic piggy bank and that was all. Again, with the amount of people, I only managed to get to the vendors that I remembered wanting to go to.
--Several ATM machines were sprinkled throughout the grounds. I so very much wanted to get a picture of the costumed people standing in line waiting to get to them--it just was funny to see them in 16th century clothing while waiting in line to use 21st century technology. But, too many people got in my way. >:(
--I took my life into my own hands and faced one of my biggest fears: the port-a-potty! Yes, I actually used one this year--but only ONCE! It wasn't quite as bad as it could have been, but it isn't an experience I want to repeat any time soon. Of course, the participants have fun with this as they do with every other aspect of life at the festival. Standing at the entrance to the port-a-potties, two men--dressed in costume--stood handing out toilet paper. They would give one or two squares, depending on what they figured the person's 'need' was. There was usually a bit of a discussion about the activity one was about to engage in, also. (If someone didn't want to engage in any of the shenanigans, the 'actors' were easily avoided.) In reality, the square of paper was NOT the only paper one was expected to use--there were actual rolls in the port-a-potties. ;)
--Again, I think we will go to the festival later in September, next year. While the weather was perfect for me--well, it COULD have been a few degrees cooler--the amount of people kept me from having quite as much fun as last year. I think with a few less people I would have seen more of what I wanted to.
And now, pictures:
